The Squeeze Machine

I struggle with my youngest son.  Sometimes I feel like he is a little homeless man living in my house, and I wonder why I don't get that feeling of natural connectedness with him.  He is the littlest, lightest, skinniest, and lowest in the pecking order amongst the children.  When the other two are packing away or putting on their shoes, he is staring at the TV, climbing on the couch, or stomping a piece of cheese into the carpet.  My first reaction is often to yell "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" "JUST DO IT NOW"  or "WHY?"
  I do not like it.  I tell my family the most difficult child needs the most understanding, but I have fallen short too often.  But since learning of the weighted blanket therapy, and putting it together with ideas like Temple Grandin's squeeze machine, I have been modifying my behaviour.  Instead of yelling, I have been trying to squeeze him more.
  And that is what I wanted to share with everyone.  I don't know that his behaviour has changed, after all, he is still a normal three year old boy, but mine has.  Simply by squeezing him more, I feel closer to him. It may be in my head, but I feel heaps more positive about him, about myself, and about us as a team.

  So if anyone out there is struggling with a child, give it a go.  It can't hurt ;)