Laura Robinson on Being the Funny One and Following Your Gut
Laura is a mom, daughter, wife, aunt, and sister. She is an eighteen-year veteran in the dental field and has experienced many professional and personal ups-and-downs. In sharing her story, Laura talks about the importance of talking herself through new chapters, her dad’s influence and what matters most to her.
We have two kids, Lily and Oliver. Lily is going to be ten in September, and Ollie is two. It’s already been ten years, and it feels like I just blinked and the time passed. With COVID this past year, it feels like that year between Lily’s 8th birthday and 9th birthday just didn’t happen. Lily was so used to just having me for so many years, and then her mom decided to have another one. Some days, she’s like, “Why, mom?” And other days, she’s like, “I’m so glad I have a brother!”
We have a good family dynamic; I love it! I wouldn’t change it for the world. Lily helps so much; I could put her on a pedestal. She’s so mature, and she’s grown into this role of big-sister-slash-mom’s-helper. She makes her lunch every single day. She puts herself to bed; I don’t even need to ask her. Which makes me feel a little guilty, you know, that mom guilt. I wonder sometimes, “Is she old enough to do this? Should I be okay with her doing all that?” I’m a full-time, working mom. What else am I supposed to do? She doesn’t complain about it, so we might as well ride it. “Go ahead girl, you can start making dinner.”
There’s still part of me that’s like, “Do I go for number three? Do I just jump that hurdle?” And so much of me is like, “You’re content. Your plate is full. Don’t overfill your plate, be grateful for what you’ve got.” And the other part is like, “Are you sure? Are you sure?” Right? Who makes these decisions for you? That’s the hard part.
I sit on decisions for a long time, and really wrap my head around it. Hard decisions. Sometimes they’re thrown at me, and I’m just forced to make them. I kind of let it go until it’s pressure time, and then the pressure is like, okay, let’s do it, or let’s not. I like to be educated about my decision before I make it. I’m not an on-a-whim type of person.
When COVID hit, I lost my position right after my maternity leave was over. I started to look for work, not knowing what I wanted to do. Should I go back to school, stay in dental, or try something different entirely?
I chose dental.
Which makes me go back to my gut, like, I really do think it’s your gut, or somebody guiding you, or whatever it is, to make these decisions. My dad, my rock, always taught me, when you want something, you work hard for it, and you don’t stop until you get it. I always had my dad in the back of my mind. If you want it, just go and get it. So, my gut and my personality work together nicely to give me that sense of, “Just listen to yourself, everything’s going to be right, just go for it.” “ This is your path.” So, I just listen to it.
I searched the web for positions available and kept coming across Longworth Dental right here in Bowmanville. So I went for it and I am SO glad I did. I fell in love with the team instantly and their philosophy about dentistry. It was a perfect match from day one. I am an expert at treatment planning, booking appointments, talking to people about their treatment and what to expect. I can walk them through it, right from the time it starts to the minute it finishes, I can tell them exactly what’s going to happen during that procedure. And then I can also tell them what it’s going to cost and help clients understand their insurance. I think I’ve mastered the things that I know, and that’s part of what I enjoy. I like being an expert in my field. I feel so grateful for that.
“My friends know me as the funny one.”
I can make people laugh while I’m doing it, which I think is a good quality. I like to bring a sense of humor everywhere I go. My friends know me as the funny one. It’s like a little trick I have in my back pocket, “You need like 5 root canals. But dooooon’t worry, it’s gonna be fiiiine. Think of all of the points you’ll get for your next vacation.” Right? “You'll get a free trip to Costa Rica.”
I just want to leave this world knowing I made an impact. Helping people feel comfortable about their root canal or their filling. And make it a positive experience for them. Hopefully, they leave and they’re like, “That receptionist was so nice today,” or, “Oh, she helped me really understand what was going on” or, “I really felt comfortable.” My hope is that our clients and the people in my life feel the positive vibes I try to give off.
Some people may think I’m too much. I try to tell myself that it doesn’t matter what other people think. If your intentions are positive and kind and in the right place, then that’s all that you should worry about. Just do your best. So that’s me.