Surviving toddler chaos: how strict is too strict?

How do you get your life back on track with a demanding toddler?

We have a 2-year-old who seems to run the show, and honestly, I’ve had enough.

Over the holidays, he watched quite a bit of TV since we were traveling a lot and spending hours in the car. Now, he constantly demands TV time. When we say no, he screams. We try to distract him, but then he moves on to something else he’s not allowed to do, starting a new tantrum cycle. He’s completely uninterested in his toys.

Breakfast is another battle. He won’t eat what’s offered anymore. To get some food in him, we prepare porridge, smoothies, or bread until he takes a bite. If he doesn’t eat, the rest of the day is even harder, so we’re stuck making sure he eats something. This takes forever.

Then there’s the pacifier. We’re trying to wean him off it by taking it away during the day when he’s occupied with other activities. But when he’s upset, we end up giving it back to calm him down—we’re not ready to fight every single battle all at once.

And don’t even get me started on sweets. He had his first taste of Christmas cookies this year, and now he wants them daily. We hold firm, tell him they’re gone, and offer alternatives. He screams, but eventually, he gives up.

He also insists on being carried, doesn’t know what he wants, and constantly pulls us around. If we try to explain that we need to eat first, he throws a tantrum. More often than not, we give in because it’s hard to handle this chaos at 6 a.m.

Is this just what life is like with a 2-year-old? How strict should we be when it comes to small things, like enjoying a morning coffee in peace?