Parenting a two year old is such a wild ride. The other day, my son started the morning with an explosion of cuddles, followed immediately by refusing the blueberry muffins he had declared his very favorite the week before. Once we made it through breakfast, the daily Battle of Putting on Shoes was still ahead!

Life Kit

How to talk toddler

Sometimes, I feel like I'm playing a game of emotional ping pong with my kid. And that can be hard for both me and him to manage.

Fast-changing feelings and defiant behavior are developmentally appropriate for one to three year olds, says pediatric psychologist Roger Harrison . They're a way of building your kid's sense of self — and understanding their place in the world.

But for parents, they can often be a source of frustration, he says. Wh

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