Reply #15: You know - that's pretty common behavior in a child her age.

[Left Is Write]

I am having similar problems with my 6-year-old daughter. She's sweet and darling and very rarely mouthy, but she just simply doesn't do as she's told. I have to get after her and after her and after her to make sure she's ready for school, and she has to be told several times to do any one thing (get her backpack, stack up her library books, brush her hair, etc).

I lose my patience too, so I second the suggestion that you count to five or ten in order to calm down. I don't like power struggles, but I don't like being late either. Sometimes you just have to get down on one knee, look them in the eye, and make sure they are actually hearing what you say.