Needing opinions !!

[Rachael]

I find 4 year olds so challenging. LOL I don't mind them if they have been with me a long time but I be really desperate financially to take a 4 year old into a current vacancy.

There, I said it.

I just find 4 year olds are at that stage where they are challenging authority and ain't nobody got time for that. When they've been here a long time, they already know I say what I mean and I mean what I say but when they come in aged 4, many think they are running the show and they are sadly mistaken, but it takes a while for them to realize that.

I think the sock issue is representative of a battle of wills now. You are the provider likely don't really have a big issue with her bare feet but it's more the outright defiance. She too likely doesn't really mind wearing socks but for her, it's one way she can "win" in your day home.

Maybe, you do address it based on the defiance rather than the action. Like you said, if she talked over you, you'd place her in time out for not listening but in her constantly taking off her socks when you've told her she needs to keep them on, she's not listening either.

I have no magic answers other than doing what I do, and avoiding 4 years olds but I know that's not always viable.