Was DC kinda terrible at 2? When did they grow out of it?

I'm always on the parenting board since DD isn't school-aged but I was hoping to get some advice from parents who have been through this with their children. How did your "difficult" toddler turn out? Did it end yet or is it just their personality?
DD is 2 & a half & she constantly whines, cries or yells over everything & it's driving me insane!
Every single thing is a battle!
The second she wakes up, she asks "where we going today mommy?" & whatever I say she throws her face in the pillow & yells no, i don't want to.
From that it's "I don't want these panties, I want princess ones" & then on to breakfast & so on.
I just don't know how to handle her any more.
I used to give her a choice of 2 things so she could feel like a big girl & have an option but that doesn't work at all anymore.
I've tried being more firm so she knows I'm the boss as well as trying to make light of some things by making jokes & distracting her from being cranky but nothing works.
She is the sweetest, smartest little thing but just so difficult & I don't have the energy to battle it out every day, I'm loosing it!
Any suggestions? Does this ever end?
Of course I feel guilty complaining because we do have great times in between all this & she is a happy healthy kid so I know I am lucky but I could use advice.

Re: Was DC kinda terrible at 2? When did they grow out of it?

DS had a lot of behavioral issues and anxiety from an early age. I would even say before 2.

We actually had him evaluated as a result and he's gotten services. (Had SEIT which has since been discontinued and now OT).

We were going nuts this fall, through the holidays, but then he turned 5 and my parents took him for a week and it's like a light switched in him for the better. I don't know if it was the change in routine, his age, or a little of both.

You'll also make yourself crazy once you start reading the internet about different things.

With him, it's definitely a personality thing and I do question a ADD/ADHD diagnosis. I also don't want to sound like I'm bragging, but I do feel he is just ridiculously smart and gets bored very quickly so acts up related to that. His OT feels he has some sensory stuff going on too. If you ever met his dad and some of his relatives on his dad's side, they all act quite similarly, but there wasn't a push to be tested back then, and there is still some commentary in my family overall that all this testing for kids is "a bunch of malarkey".

I also know how hard it is to NOT compare them to other kids, especially the ones who are angels all the time.

Message edited 1/28/2014 5:55:43 AM.

Re: Was DC kinda terrible at 2? When did they grow out of it?

P.S. I also think diet could play a role. DS is someone who could live on carbs alone, which obviously turn into sugar. I've had to get sneaky with his diet, often making smoothies and stuff like that with extra protein.

Re: Was DC kinda terrible at 2? When did they grow out of it?

My 2.5 year old is exhausting. He says milk then I poor milk and then he wants choc milk, no water. it goes on. It's a control thing and I do not allow it. Well, sometimes I just give in to survive. LOL! He's a sweet boy and can snap out of it fast, but boy is he stubborn. Total opposite than his older brother. His older brother is 4. He had his tough times, but finally at 4.5 he can be talked to. My 2 year old is very smart too. Smart and stubborn don't mix well. Nooo!

It's exhausting and now I have him in preschool 2 times a week, which helps. I am hoping he gets better, but I do know it well get worse before better. I remember 3 was tough. Ugh!