What I learned during the pandemic

Hi everyone! So funny story when I was in high school one of my friends actually set up me up a website and I had a blog that I updated almost everyday. Funny how things come full circle and here I am, a mom of 2, opening my office and blogging again. I know you came here for dental knowledge, but I thought it might be nice to share a little about myself first...and my story! 

As we all know this past year has been tough all around. But instead of focusing on the negatives, something really beautiful came out of the pandemic for me. In March 2020, I had already planned to take 4 months of maternity leave with my 2nd born son, so I was at home and got to thinking a lot on what I saw my life looking like. I was an associate at an office, and I liked it, but I was coming home and feeling like...what is my next challenge, what am I working for, and do I see myself as an associate for the rest of my career?

It was during this time that I did a lot of praying, soul searching and realizing that I wanted to open Cultivate Kids. It is my 3rd baby. I love being a mom, but I also love being a pediatric dentist and I felt in a sense I had lost myself a bit after having kids. Does anyone else feel this way?

Who was I anyways? What were my interests and what did I want to pursue? 

This beautiful opportunity came a'knockin' and I am taking it by the horns and running with it! I hope you come alongside me and see how passionate I am about what I do and how I really believe that all kids can have no cavities in their whole childhood and let's partner together in this. 

Everyone asks me, why Knightdale?? (well, those people who have no idea where Knightdale is..it's closer to Raleigh than you might think!) I feel incredibly called to his profession and this community. I fell in love with Knightdale the first time I took a walk in Knightdale Station Park and every. single. person. said hi to me. The friendliness, the small-town charm, it just clicked.

I want to give a special shoutout to Drs. Martin and Bumgarner for entrusting me and sharing their space with me, Dr. Ketan Jumani who went to pediatric residency with me for your start-up prowess, Dr. Cook for all his one-liners and mentorship from my residency days, and my local pediatric dentists who have been my colleagues and supporters- Dr. Shraddha Patel and Dr. Bobby Elliott to name a few. I am also so thankful for having the most supportive husband who literally hand-picked Knightdale from us looking at Google Maps one day and also for my 2 kids...I want them to see a mom who goes after her dreams and makes a difference in her community, but who also prioritizes family time too! 

I'm looking forward to meeting ALL of you and your children. I'm pretty much an open book so feel free to comment on any questions or any blog posts you'd like to see!