Monnie, thanks for thinking of us
Things are a bit better, but still a constant battle some days, just not quite as often. It seems she will improve for a while, then all of a sudden go back to hysterical child for a while, then back t good again.
She's very excited at the thought of starting school and has ahad a few orientations so i think this is a big factor in the improvement.

She is still very 'full on' as in her energy levels and is constantly driving everyone nuts with her need for attention 24/7, and her constant loudness and enough energy for 20 kids.

Caro, thanks for your suggestions, i realise half the problem is a power struggle, the problem is that the clothes behavious has been since she was 10 months old, and quite obviously a discomfort thing rather that a power struggle.

I took her to the paediatrician to rule out things like sensory processing disorders, and as for medicating her, thats something i wouldn't consider without a whole lot of research first, as i personally dont beieve its something that needs medicating.

The paediatrician (we went today) went through everything and checked her out today and didnt seem to think there was anything obviously wrong with her that needed treating in any form, and told me that i'm doing everything right in terms of consistancy and planning ahead etc.

Its just frustrating that i've been doing the same thing for 4 years now and its not seeming to get much better.

I smack her as a last resort when she is so hysterical that nothing else works, mainly if i am out and letting her cry it out in time out isnt an option cause my 8 month old nephew is sleeping in the next room.

Ashlea's dad and i split when she was 15 months old. She doesnt even remeber a time where we were together so for her the whole split family is just that way its always been. She plays up more when shes back from spending time with him because his family are constantly eating junk, she's always up late there and they let her get away with much more than i ever would. There is nothing that can be done about that cause no matter how much i explain to them that she can't have McDonalds and lollies and cr@p all the time they still give it to her. Its out of my control what they do with her when she is there.
She spends every second weekend with dad and calls him whenever she wants. i have no problem with her spending as much time with dad as she wants, he just finds it hard to fit her in with his lifestyle, and now we live a few hours apart so its not like that can catch up more often anyway. He says he'ss take her for school holidays but never does. Not much else i can do about any of that.