Have you ever felt like something’s off… but no one else seems to see it?

When your gut tells you something about your child’s development or behavior, but doctors say “wait and see,” it can leave you spiraling in self-doubt, confusion, and exhaustion. In this episode, we’re sitting down with Christie Brown—a mom of two, creator of Stims and Smiles, and powerful advocate for her neurodivergent son—about what it really looks like to trust your inner knowing when the system tells you to stay quiet.

This honest conversation is full of raw truths, emotional wins, and practical insights. Christie shares how her journey with early intervention, misdiagnosis, and navigating systems from scratch taught her to be her child’s most powerful advocate—and how sensory awareness transformed her family’s world.

We dive into:

• Why the “wait and see” approach almost derailed early support
• How Christie found clarity through sensory awareness before a formal diagnosis
• What heavy work and home supports looked like (bookbags, body socks, burrito rolls!)
• Navigating burnout as a mom and reclaiming tiny pockets of space and care
• How one community and one instinctual “yes” changed everything

You’ll walk away reminded that you are the expert on your child—and that your voice matters.

• (02:00) When the baby had more words than the toddler
• (08:00) The mis-scored early intervention eval that changed everything
• (13:00) Finding therapy support and sensory tools that actually helped
• (19:00) From burnout to boundaries: a mom’s healing arc
• (25:00) One message for moms still stuck in the “unknown”

Resources:

• Christie’s account: @stimsandsmiles
• The Pyramid of Learning
• 👉 The Clarity Lab: A 10-minute reset to help decode your child’s meltdowns and connect with confidence

• Website → theedisoncollective.com
• Instagram → @the_edison_collective
• Email → victoria@theedisoncollective.com

• Hit Follow on the podcast so you never miss a story or strategy
• Share this episode with a fellow mom who’s deep in “Is this normal?” mode
• Come back to your gut—it’s wiser than you think