Modern Hygienist - February 2009 - (Page 35)

SURVIVING | life Cinnamon Morris, RDH. When I was 15 years old, my parents divorced. My mother was surprised by my father’s decision to leave and was unprepared for life as a single parent. She was uneducated, unemployed and required state assistance to raise her five kids. Heartache, depression, and financial strain were abundant in our life during this time. When it came time for me to choose a career, I based part of my decision on being able to care for myself no matter what my marital status. I never wanted to be in the same situation as my mother. In 1995 I got married, had a child and chose dental hygiene as my profession—it was a big year. Six months after the birth of my daughter I was taking course prerequisites for dental hygiene, and I graduated from the dental hygiene program at Lake Washington Technical College in June of 2000. Working full-time as a clinical hygienist gave my husband, daughter and I financial stability. I felt secure knowing that whatever happened in my life, I would be able to live comfortably. I put that to the test in the summer of 2003. My husband and I divorced on Friday the 13th, June 2003. I had an 8-year-old daughter and a mountain of debt. I was once again in a single parent situation, but this time, I was the parent. I found myself just trying to survive, juggling the demands of dental hygiene and full-time parenting. I was trying to heal myself from a failed marriage and mend a little girl from the devastating breakup of her family. Being a newly divorced, working parent is one of the most difficult jobs I have ever had. It was a time when I needed someone to take care of me, but I was solely responsible for caring for a house, a child and a broken heart. When I was not caring for patients’ needs, I was caring for my daughter’s needs. When she was visiting her dad, I was “working” on myself. I read books about single parenting and recovering from divorce. I started running regularly and competed in my first 5K race. I was expanding my social network—trying to connect with people who would support me emotionally and challenge me intellectually. After the divorce, I found many of my friends were “not available.” fact There are approximately 13.6 million single parents in the United States today, 84% of whom are women. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Custodial Mothers and Fathers and Their Child Support: 2005. Released in August, 2007. Many were upset by the divorce, felt they had to choose sides, or no longer had much in common with me. I decided to join a singles club. My goal, initially, was to make friends and have fun. I never expected to meet the man I was going to marry. In May 2004, Richard and I met on a singles dinner cruise. We were married by that November. We have added two little boys to our family and I continue to work clinically, part-time. I credit my career as a dental hygienist for providing me with the income, flexibility and stability required to survive my time as a single parent. Cinnamon Morris, RDH, practices dental hygiene, with Dr. Kevin Lee in Issaquah, WA. She enjoys learning about new trends in dentistry and applying her knowledge and skills in private practice. Tricia Jinbo, RDH, BS. In 1993 I quit my job, quit school, left my friends in Las Vegas and moved home to Hawaii. I was alone, seven months pregnant and I didn’t have “Plan B.” “Plan A” had me graduating from college at age 23 and married by 25, yet here I was, 23, pregnant, no husband or boyfriend, and no degree! When I arrived home in Hawaii, I discovered my mother had submitted an application on my behalf for QUEST, a state-funded medical plan. Eventually, I sucked up my pride and went on welfare and other state-funded programs such as WIC. I was so embarrassed. I didn’t want to take advantage of the system; I just needed a little help to get me through school. I knew if I got a degree and a job, I’d be successful at whatever I did. Six months after my daughter, Tehani, was February 2009 | modern hygienist 35

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Modern Hygienist - February 2009

Modern Hygienist - February 2009 Contents Editor's Letter Letters News Modern Solutions Caring for Kids The DNA Difference A Healthy Perspective The Economic Impact on You How Single Moms Make it Work Ad Index Classified Economy 101

Modern Hygienist - February 2009

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