Whether it was due to jealousy or to plain toddler-boy behavior, whenever my two-year-old hit my baby, it elicited my Mama Bear reaction. I feared that my son was a hitter, and I certainly overreacted.

To keep from panicking, I needed to remember that a Jewish child’s essence is virtuous and G‑dly. A character defect is not a reflection of who the child really is inside; rather, it is a temporary glitch in the system, due to external influences.

And how do we free our children of these negative traits? With education and discipline. Educate a child with love, endeavoring to bring him close. Discipline a child in a subtle manner, emphasizing the child’s inherent goodness.

Thoughtstream: Today, I will view my child’s challenges as short-term, for his soul is untainted and his goodness is here to stay.

(Adapted from Torat Menachem 5746, vol. 3, p. 621.)