No ears...

No advice really Emma, but I can definitely sympathise.
I was coming in here to write a similar post!
Some days (like today) Ella is like a boomerang, in and out of the time-out corner because she just won't do as she's asked.
It drives me banana's and I hate feeling like such a horrible nagging Mum all the time

Sometimes I say the first half of the ever-repeated sentence and get Hannah to complete it! But if you're having strings of problems, like constantly over half an hour or so, I'd get her to choose a couple of books and go to her bedroom for 1/2 hr or something. Gotta be careful because it is a hard adjustment time, and she is probably just wanting your attention (for good or for bad ). Hope things settle down soon.

I also have a cloth eared child. I am trying really hard (and it isn't as easy as it sounds) to tell him what I want him to do rather than what i don't want him to do. Dosn't always work (yet, after all he is only 17 months), but when it does, YEAH!

we also have children with painted ears. for the most part we try to redirect them, but sometimes it just gets to the point where that doesn't work either. Paris used to do the same when i was trying to feed Ayja, so we did do the book thing, i would say to her to get some books and bring them and sit next to me and read them. we also have the choices thing now.. ie do as i ask and stay in here, or if you cannot stop whatever naughty behaviour, then i suggest you go and find some quiet thing to do in your room away from me because i am getting angry. it's kind of a way to tell them to stop without nagging, but also means that they can choose to stay near you, or go find something else to do..without having to resport straight to the time out thing, sometimes even give them direction ie.. how bout going and playing blocks in your room. of course depends if you are asking them to do something for you, in which case giving them an out clause is not what you want.. but if they're just being annoying.. definately the way to go. lol   

again, easier said than done with the 3 yr old variety who blatantly ignore every thing said.

oh you so have my sympathy. speaking from experience i now only tell Alyssa to do something once. If she doesnt listen i count to 3. She now stops what she is doing and is good. Depending on the level of naughtyness involved 3 is either a smack on the hand or time out in room. Or a combo lol.

But hard for you to carry out if your busy expressing i know. But i guess she is only doing it because she knows you are tied up and cant do anything about it. It would only take (hopefully) a couple of times of you stopping what your doing and following through with the punishment for her to realise that you mean business.

Oh I'm sooooo glad I'm not the only one! She was a lot better yesterday, we only had two minor altercations. The latest thing is that I am "starving" her because after dinner I only let her have one chocolate Freddo frog (that I bought for the trick or treaters) and not 3. She wants 3 of everything coz she is 3. Gotta love the logic.

chop her freddo in three...
oh you wanted to brush your teeth three times cause you are three... and you only want three toys in your room, and only three books???

Kobe's mum, my mum was having trouble with one of my brothers and she wasn't sure if it was selective hearing or an actual problem. One day she tested him: was on the opposite side of the room and whispered "Geoff would you like an icecream?" He heard first time without fail... no need to visit the Doc!

Hahhahahahaha yup they're very clever

Maya wants to be a doctor coz she watches Shortland St...

Oh and she had a hearing test at preschool yesterday and what do you know - she has perfect hearing...