Momming is hard_Strong willed child

Momming is HARD work, but Momming a strong willed child is just whooooo weeee it knocks the wind out of you sometimes.  My precious Carson is our rainbow child a blessing from God I know this, however he keeps me frazzled 90% of the time. Honestly there are days where I feel trapped and held hostage by my 2 year old boy. Fearful to leave the house, because he may hit someone, he may run into the street, he may have a melt down because he is out of “chocolate milk”. 
They say terrible 2’s hahahaha have they met threenagers? We haven’t even got to 3’s yet!!  This battle started when he was about 19 months old and has gradually escalated into meltdown mode to current time (27 months old). I keep hoping it’s a phase and somedays I see the light at the end of the tunnel and think to myself wow, this parenting thing is easy, I’ve got this….and then I give him the wrong colored cup!  I can’t tell you how many mornings were “ruined” over a cup!
In all fairness he is 2 and it’s my responsibility to teach him how to manage his little emotions and behaviors, but somedays it’s so hard, like I literally want to throw in the flag and surrender….and then he will come up to me and wrap his tiny little arms around my neck and say Momma over and over. My little sour patch kid in every single way and I know this is just a phase and someday I will look around the house and wish for the spilled chocolate milk, the mushed bananas in the carpet, and a room full of metal cars to step on!
In the meantime things I have found helpful to AVOID meltdowns are:
1:  Do NOT wake the beast..let him wake on his own in the morning
2. Have him already dressed the night before ready to go the next day (we only do a shirt or soft clothing like basketball shorts, this saves at LEAST 30 minutes)
3. Have his milk ready to pull from the fridge-if he sees me pour it we fight over cup colors
4. Make sure he naps-HAHAHA he is the type that will literally bounce up and down until he falls over on the floor. The only way I can get him to nap is to lay with him..Momma needs naps to?
5. Limit screen time. I have noticed on days he vegges out on the tablet he is the grumpiest.
6.  Avoid large crowds or loud events-he gets way too stimulated and I can’t calm him down and it’s usually a 45 minute meltdown.
7. Avoid the toy aisle or parks if you are not intending to buy or play (I envy parents who can take their kids past these things and they can reason with their children). Carson does NOT reason, he is a different beast!
8. Stay calm and voice lowered, he seems to get more anxious and “crazy” acting when I raise my voice or say NO, so I have learned to redirect.
9. Hold him when transporting, he’s a runner and will GO just like that.  I understand now why parents do the bracelet attachment things and I pass no judgement-I have considered it myself.
10.  Give him all of the love I can-know that he will not be little long and someday I will miss the chaos-embrace the chaos!