DS has been aggressive this morning, hoping this is just a phase??

[chocolatemarzipan]

DS (2.7) has scared me this morning with how he's behaved. He's normally sensitive and caring but a real chatterbox and can be quite challenging now he can have proper conversations and tries to argue.

This morning, I was feeding DD (4 months) and he attacked another little boy at a toddler group, he was maybe about 18 months old, so smaller and younger than him. I only saw the last bit of it as the organiser was removing him, but he was banging this poor little boy against the wall. I couldn't believe my eyes. I told him off very strongly and made him go over the other little boy with me and say sorry. I've explained to him why he shouldn't do this and that I don't want him to do it ever again. Fortunately his mum was fine about it but I'm completely mortified. Is this 'normal' behaviour? He got upset when I told him off and I think he knows it was wrong. If it happens again, how should I deal with it? I'm now thinking I should have taken him home straight afterwards.

He's 2! Its normal. If he does it again tell him off, and maybe keep him with you for a bit so you "can watch him". But also ask him why? He may not be able to tell you, but its worth trying. Also try to help him have words to express how he feels. Talk about your feelings. Talk about better ways to express them.
However it was quite probable that the other child snatched something he was playing with, or even hit him first. It doesn't make the other child "bad", just they are too little to really realise other people have feelings, or to be able to control and express their own.