We sit down with Michelle Choairy, founder of Collective Wisdom for Complex Kids, who shares her personal journey and valuable insights on how to improve the quality of life for children with special needs. Michelle discusses her "Thrive Method," a system she developed to help parents navigate the complexities of raising a child with developmental delays or other challenges. In this heartfelt conversation, Michelle opens up about the importance of building a support system, managing meltdowns, and celebrating small victories. Claudie Pomares, creator of Sensory Enrichment Therapy, also joins the discussion to provide practical strategies for calming the brain during stressful moments.

Episode Highlights:

[00:37] Michelle introduces herself as a “mom of a complex kid” and explains why she prefers this term over more specific labels.

[06:10] Michelle shares the story of her son’s early birth and the challenges that led her to found Collective Wisdom for Complex Kids.

[10:12] Michelle introduces her “Thrive Method” and explains the first step: building a supportive team.

[23:12] Michelle talks about the power of “front-loading” to prevent meltdowns and offers practical tips on managing transitions.

[32:16] Claudie Pomares discusses the science behind sensory overload and how cool water and pleasant scents can help manage meltdowns.

[38:53] Michelle shares her recent discovery of using cold therapy to calm her son during meltdowns and how it has transformed their daily life.

[42:29] Michelle emphasizes the importance of celebrating small wins and how it can lead to greater success for children with special needs.

[49:01] Michelle stresses the importance of self-care for parents, urging them to take time for themselves to better support their children.