Looking on the Bright Side

I am really feeling the need to be more gentle and loving with my children despite the challenges of day to day life. My biggest issue lately seems to be getting out the door in the morning with the kids. Eric is very not focused, rather unfocused actually, and getting him to get his shoes on, gather his things, put his coat on etc, is going to put me in an early grave. It's like he can't hear or process instructions unless you are right in front of him and physically requiring attention. On the flip side he always has something fun going on and he is super charming. So, I need to focus on that, but still find strategies to get him to focus on what needs to happen. Any good suggestions? One of my friends here just found out that her six year old is desperately in need of glasses and he has many of the same issues as Eric, it makes me wonder. Does Eric not see the shoes that I'm pointing to and trying desperately to make him put on? Eric's preschool teacher says that he is often out of it at preschool too, kind of staring into space and not paying attention to what is happening around him. Any thoughts anyone? Particularly my OT sister in law, help! How does one test for a disability that may be there with a child this age. At what point do you start being really concerned that it's not just dawdling or focused on their own inner little world? I feel like it's mostly just he's into his own thing, but you know, you don't want to entirely chalk it up to that, because maybe there is some issue there. Anyway, more research will have to occur, but until then I will try to be more patient and positive about good qualities and behaviour.