Also I just want to say, that most toddlers are pretty good natured! Like toddlers can be difficult, but it's usually at transitional moments. I've cared for extremely intelligent toddlers, standard issue toddlers (lol), and a toddler diagnosed with autism. They are still pretty easy to be around, like - kids for the most part want to get along with everyone and have fun.

Like, toddlers are exhausting because of all the energy they have (oh god, I'm exhausted just thinking about it) and yes - in comparison to BABIES they start inserting their will. And they just learned they have feelings, which is painful for everyone. But the idea that toddlers are these nightmare dictators running around as whole isn't that accurate. They get a bad reputation at 2 because how much harder it is to take care of a kid that realizes it has free will than it is to care for even the most energetic butternut squash of infant. It's not that 2 year olds are nightmares, but I feel like that gets communicated a lot in parent guides online.