WOMAN TO WATCH

from Lake Norman Woman February 2023

COVER STORY

LKNW RECOGNIZES A WOMAN DOING EXCEPTIONAL WORK IN THE LAKE NORMAN COMMUNITY, A LEADER WHO IS PAVING THE WAY TO CHANGING OUR ATTITUDES AND INSPIRING CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE.

DR. mac

MONIQUE McEACHERN, DDS

SMILE PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY & ORTHODONTICS

on CHILDHOOD REVISITED: I grew up in Fayetteville, North Carolina. My father, who passed away when I was very young, served in the United States Air Force, and my mother worked in personnel security for the United States Army. I had a very active childhood—participating in ballet, tap, jazz, cheerleading, and softball. I also loved music and learned how to play the clarinet in middle school. Not only did I letter in every sport, but I also lettered in band.

on LIVING WITH INTENT AND PURPOSE: Married for more than 21 years now, we have a 15-year-old daughter and an 18-year-old son. With active teenagers at home, it’s tough trying to juggle it all but I’m fortunate to have a very supportive husband who helps protect my well-being by splitting the chores. I design my workday schedule so that I am fi nished seeing patients earlier in the day—allowing me to pick up the kids at school and have some time with them before evening activities begin. I prepare meals ahead of time and have help with housekeeping. I also fi nd it extremely benefi cial to incorporate meditation in my morning routine. This allows me to go into the day with intention and calm focus.

on FACING FEARS AND DIVING RIGHT IN: I am most proud of learning how to swim as an adult and competing in triathlons. I grew up being afraid of any open body of water. I remember having heart palpitations and anxiety just walking along the beach. For my 40th birthday, I decided I wanted to complete a triathlon, so I signed up for a race and began training. Already a runner and able to ride a bike, my big challenge was learning to swim so I enrolled in an adult swimming class. Fun fact … I was the only one in the class, and my lesson was at the same time as the youth swim practice. During my fi rst lesson I was learning how to bob and breathe when I heard a voice cry out, “You can do it Dr. Mac!” To my surprise, two of my patients were on the swim team, so every week they provided moral support as I learned new skills.

on PURSUING YOUR PASSIONS: My aunt is a pediatric dentist, and she is the one who talked to me about the profession—encouraging me to combine my passion for healthcare with my love for kids. Building my pediatric dentistry practice from the ground up has been very rewarding. Ownership has allowed me the freedom to care for my patients in the way they deserve by providing an atmosphere that is nurturing, educational, inviting, and fun.

on SMILING, HIGH-FIVING, AND HUGGING: When a child is in my chair who is extremely fearful, and I am able to slowly and calmly walk them through what we are going to do—and they come out on the other side smiling, high-fi ving, and hugging—it is the best feeling in the world! It’s a joy to watch them realize that it wasn’t as bad as they thought, and it brings them a sense of accomplishment when they understand that they can do hard things. w

Dr. Monique McEachern, “Dr. Mac,” is the owner of Smile Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics located at 9916 Couloak Drive in Charlotte. You can reach Dr. Mac and her team at 704.971.7272 or visit them today at www.mykidsmile.com.

Beautiful Hand-Crafted Scroll Saw Art WWW.WEIRSWOODART.ETSY.COM | (704) 756-0909

BOB WEIR

LMT, MMP, CKTP Licensed Massage Therapist, LMT # 3040 Medical Massage Practitioner Specializing in Medical & Sports Massage 20 Years Experience

Therapeutic Massage that restores and activates your healing potential!

.Deep Tissue Massage . Injury Recovery Massage . Mobility Restoration

(704) 756-0909

HERO'S 20% DISCOUNT

LKNMassage.com

All First Responders, (Police, Fire & Medic), get a 20% Discount!

Reach even more customers with LKNW's DIGITAL PACKAGES!

Approaching Divorce in a Healthy Way in 2023

By Robin M. Mermans, Esq., Owner of ROAD to RESOLUTION

A NEW YEAR BRINGS

an opportunity for new beginnings. While it is a di cult and challenging topic, for some families, a new year may also mean divorce. In fact, the rst few months of a new year are typically the busiest for family law rms as we receive an increase in inquiries for the divorce process.

As a Collaborative Family Law attorney and certi ed mediator who has also been through a divorce, I know how important it is to research the ins and outs before beginning the process with your spouse. Divorce doesn’t have to be destructive or combative – and unfortunately, I learned that the hard way. My personal experience almost 15 years ago inspired me to found ROAD to RESOLUTION and help others divorce in a non-adversarial manner. If you and your spouse are considering divorce, here are my top ve suggestions for preparing for the process:

1 GET EDUCATED ON DIVORCE

If separation has crossed your mind, a pre-divorce education is an incredibly helpful place to start. This type of confi dential introductory meeting is essentially Divorce 101. If you don’t know where to begin or what your fi rst step should be if or when you’re ready to separate, a pre-divorce education will help prepare you and give you the confi dence you may need.

2 RESEARCH YOUR OPTIONS

There are many ways to get divorced and it’s important to learn about your options. I’m personally passionate about newer and healthier divorce processes that will save you time and money while keeping you out of court. Through voluntary options like Mediation and Collaborative Law, you and your spouse can get divorced without resorting to litigation that is often harmful with long-lasting, negative effects.

3 DEVELOP A STRATEGY

It’s essential that you determine what you want out of your divorce by looking ahead to the future rather than dwelling in the past. This can include familial, fi nancial, and emotional wants and needs. For instance, some of my clients make goals for their co-parenting plans, living situations, and/or fi nances and investments.

4 INTERVIEW ATTORNEYS

Choosing an attorney who you are comfortable with and can trust is the most important part of preparing for a divorce. Research attorneys who focus on the type of process you’re interested in pursuing by visiting their websites, looking at their social media, and reading reviews. When you fi nd an attorney you like, call their offi ce and schedule an initial consultation.

5 STAY POSITIVE

No matter which divorce process you choose, there will be tough conversations and diffi cult decisions. Prepare yourself for these types of overwhelming emotions by practicing mindfulness and taking time for yourself. It’s important to remember that the divorce process is only temporary but the life after a healthy divorce resolution is full of new opportunity, happiness, and peace for you and your family.

TIPS,

& HACKS

Meet Me at 8:00.

ROMANCE EDITION

Get creative with your date nights—Recreate your rst date; enjoy a Lake Norman sunset with a romantic picnic; have dessert and co ee at a jazz club; set up a tent for a cozy movie night at home.

Leave love notes, Valentine’s Day swag, and small gifts all over the house…some visible, some hidden!

Make a Scrapbook.

It’s fun to reminisce about your life together, so go back through your photo les, souvenirs, and other memorabilia to create that perfect one-of-a-kind memory book.

BETTER ME … BETTER YOU … BETTER WORLD MIND body spirit

By mixing the ingredients of attitude and action, we can change the flavor of our own lives. Learn to nurture your body and soul to lead a more balanced life.

WHAT IS ESSENTIAL IS INVISIBLE TO THE EYE

The Little Prince by French author Antoine de SaintExupéry was fi rst published in English in the United States in April of 1943 and has been fi rmly entrenched in our hearts ever since. The story follows a young prince who visits various planets in space, including Earth, and addresses all the humanness of loneliness, friendship, love, and loss. Despite it being categorized as a children's book, The Little Prince makes profound and insightful observations about life, adults, and human nature in general. One of the most poignant and famous excerpts is a great example of how to follow your heart! w

"It's madness

to hate all roses

because you got scratched with one thorn, to give up all dreams because one of them didn't come true, to give up all attempts because one of them failed.

It's folly to condemn all your friends because one has betrayed you, to no longer believe in love just because someone was unfaithful or didn't love you back, to throw away all your chances to be happy because something went wrong. There will always be another opportunity, another friend, another love, a new strength. For every end, there is always a new beginning. And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."

~ ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPÉRY, THE LITTLE PRINCE

THE DEARING TEAM PROMISE

WE ARE PERSISTENT

We will always find a way. We create innovative opportunities and deliver solutions. We don’t sit and wait. We take initiative and follow up, follow through and follow back. We are relentless and accountable. We stick to our promises.

We love what we do and we have fun doing it. We stay positive and energetic no matter what comes our way. We have a drive to help others which keeps us motivated to constantly learn and evolve. We believe every person and every interaction matters.

It’s more than just the transaction; it’s about forming lasting relationships. Our clients mean everything to us and we respond to them with honesty, patience and empathy throughout the entire process.