"Mommy can't drive"

This phrase sums up my last two months of Mamahood with my beautiful daughter. She turned two and things changed. Top three traits:

1. Opinionated - She has a opinion about everything. It's her way or else.
2. LOUD - She screams MAMA in stores when I'm in her eyesight.
   
3. Articulate - She speaks in full sentences and expects a response

How do you deal with a bold toddler when working, cleaning, cooking, driving & maintaining sanity?


I'm navigating through this stage with coffee. I ignore what I can and diffuse what I can't. We discuss options, which has bitten me in the butt. Especially at dinnertime. I'll ask if she wants chicken, expecting the one year old answer, and get "how about pasta, Mom." Or the popular, "maybe I'll have yogurt". I've added short order cook to my resume along with nurse and chauffeur.

Which brings me to the first insult I've received from my one and only. We were running errands in one hundred degree weather - and picked up my mother for lunch. My darling tot says "Mommy can't drive"  then proceeds with "Mima can't drive". Thus, insulting the entire car in 5 seconds.

I politely explained that she can't drive, which is why Mommy is driving. She apologized immediately (fantasy). She continued repeating "Mommy can't drive" (reality) - until we reached our destination.

Since that day, I've been physically pushed, slapped and kicked during tantrums and moments of anger. Poor Dad tries to save me but she ignores his demands like a teenage girl whose cell phone was taken. We sigh in unison. Then,  I read articles on how to manage toddler rage - while tweeting about her antics.

So the questions remains -

How do you deal with a bold toddler when working, cleaning, cooking, driving & maintaining sanity?