Nolan's New "Trick"

I arrived at daycare on Tuesday only to be greeted by one of Nolan's teachers who pulled me aside to tell me of Nolan's new "trick" he started that day.  BITING.  Oh my word, ha!  He apparently bit the same little girl three times, and even broke the skin on the third time :(

I feel so awful, especially since he bit her AGAIN the next day!  I honestly don't know what has gotten into him, since he doesn't do any biting at home at all.  I can imagine being that little girl's parents and being upset that their child was hurt, but I am at a loss as to how to solve our little issue.  Thankfully, the teachers/administrators at his daycare are very understanding and have assured me that this is normal for this age and perhaps it's related to teething, but you still don't want your kid to be THAT kid.  The bad kid, or whatever.  I am sure it's just a phase, but my stomach is a bit queasy each morning/evening when I drop him off or pick him up for fear he will have munched on one of his classmates again!

I was telling my mom about this on the way home yesterday, and she reminded me that "we are just getting started" with this whole discipline thing!  I know there is not much point in trying to explain to Nolan why his actions are wrong at this point, since he doesn't even understand what I am saying and can't cognitively relate what I tell him after the fact to something he did when I was not there.  I know he isn't doing anything maliciously, but I still don't want him hurting others!

But it got me to thinking (and honestly scared me to death!)  How am I going to discipline as he grows older?  How are WE going to discipline him?  I want him to grow up with a respect for the rules, and respect for others.  His teacher tells me he is her "boundary tester," and in a way that frightens me.  I in no means want him to be a follower, but I don't want him to "test" so many boundaries to the point of real trouble or injury to himself!

I pray for guidance as he gets older to learn how to communicate with him and to tell him why what he is doing is wrong, and for him to understand how his actions cause certain consequences.  I am sure it's just another part we will have to learn together, but man, you just want to do it right!