Behind The White Coat - Real Talk For Physician Spouses

#31| From Classroom To CEO: A Med Spouse’s Guide To Growth Mindset And Reinvention

• Amanda • Season 1 • Episode 31

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We share Lauren Dumont’s journey from a beloved kindergarten classroom to finding Little Minds Big Futures while navigating family medicine residency. The talk blends growth mindset, identity, and practical literacy support for K–5 readers.

• PGY2 realities and why timing rarely feels perfect
• Leaving a career and moving provinces with grace
• What growth mindset means for kids and adults
• Reframing loss into opportunity and small steps
• Routines that steady hard seasons and loneliness
• Guilt, comparison, and protecting your identity
• Communication, shifting seasons, and shared expectations
• How custom literacy tutoring builds confidence
• K–5 focus on decoding, fluency, and motivation
• How to connect with Lauren for online or Winnipeg sessions

If this episode resonates with you and you wish to connect with Lauren, and to know more about her Little Minds Big Futures tutoring business, please feel free to reach out to her here and also follow her Instagram page. To explore the resources offered by Little Minds Big Futures, please visit this website. 

If you enjoyed this episode, I would love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it with another physician spouse.

DM me on Instagram or email me at amanda@abtnhomes.com with your thoughts, topic ideas, questions, or even guest suggestions.

SPEAKER_02:

Hello, everyone, and welcome back to today's episode. I am so honored and excited to introduce you to today's guest. Lauren Dumont is an entrepreneur and advocate for growth mindset learning. After spending many years building a career working with children, she made the brave decision to leave it all behind and start in a new city while supporting her husband through medical residency. Today, she runs her own tutoring business called Little Minds Big Futures, where she helps children thrive. She inspires parents and shares the realities and rewards of life as a medical spouse. Lauren's story is such a beautiful example of resilience, reinvention, and purpose. And I cannot wait for you to hear it. Lauren, thanks so much for being here. Thank you so much for having me. I know I'm so excited. I have so many questions already for you. But before we jump straight into it, just let the listeners know a little bit about you, your experience being married to medicine, where you guys are at in your medical journey.

SPEAKER_00:

So we are currently in our PGY2 year. We're half almost halfway through. It's which is good. Yeah, absolutely. And uh this was the year that I decided to start my business because PGY one year was an easy year, I think, for everybody.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, no, exactly. And what is your husband's specialty? He's in family medicine. Okay, so yeah, you guys are in the thick of things. And, you know, why not shift careers and do that in the middle of this whole medical journey?

SPEAKER_00:

Absolutely. Especially with the long hours and being alone. You know, this was uh a big opportunity for me to spend the time alone and figure out what I want to do.

SPEAKER_02:

Good for you.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, congrats on that. And I am excited to kind of share a little bit about you and what you do with these listeners, not only as a parent, but um a parent of somebody or a child that has some learning challenges and some learning differences. And so tell us a little bit about building your career, working with children, what it was like to actually leave that behind and starting over in a new city.

SPEAKER_00:

It was really hard to leave it behind, and it was not an easy journey. I had myself a lot of grace, especially the first year of residency. That's where, you know, I had to stop my career. I worked so hard for that. I went to school for it, and I absolutely loved what I did. And to leave it all behind was a little bit difficult.

SPEAKER_02:

I didn't want to. And so, as far as what you left behind, just so that we paint a picture for the listeners, what career were you doing before you actually left?

SPEAKER_00:

So I was working in the school board, I was working in the kindergarten classroom. Yeah, with my 30 little ones, you know, when I had to leave, it was so difficult. I actually left one month before the year ended. So it was tough, it was very tough. And uh I said goodbye to my students. I before I left, I told them where I was going. I showed them because I was from uh I'm from Ontario and to Manitoba. So I was showing them on the map. This is where I'm moving to. And then the kids, we learned a little bit about Canada and all the provinces. So that was very fun for them.

SPEAKER_02:

And I'm sure they were excited for you. Sad to see you go, but I'm sure they were super excited for you.

SPEAKER_00:

Yes, yes, they were excited. I did a video chat with the new teacher, and uh they were like, Oh, how is Manitoba? And they were so sweet. So that was really nice. I got to at least speak to them before the year ended.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, get a little update. Yes. So, was there a specific moment, you know, like what was that time like when you just realized, okay, it's it's time. It's time for me to pivot, it's time for a change. Like, was it just this big aha or something that you had been thinking about over time?

SPEAKER_00:

So it was something that I wanted to do for many years. Know how I was going to do it. And being married to medicine, you have to pivot a little bit. You can't just like I couldn't just go back and start working again. It wasn't like that. I I had to I had to support my husband. So I said, what are ways that I can work from home, still support my husband, and do what I love, follow my dreams as well. He's following his dreams, and I thought that you know what, this is the perfect time. I'm alone, I have all this time in the world. Why not?

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, and it's it's your time to shine, right? I love the name of your business first, Little Minds, Big Futures. And I know that in this business that you focus on something called growth mindset learning. For those people listening that don't know what that is, can you kind of give them a little idea behind the thought of that and how it works and implementing it?

SPEAKER_00:

Absolutely. So, Growth Mindset actually comes from the book Mindset by Carol Dwick. One of my favorite books. Yeah, I've not read it, but I'm gonna write it down. I think everybody should read it. It shows the difference between what a fixed mindset is and what a growth mindset is. What a fixed mindset is that you are born with your gifts. And growth mindset says, No, you can develop these gifts by practicing and by being resilient and by embracing failure and embracing mistakes. Because in order to succeed in life, we will make mistakes.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Instead of the mistakes and failures that we have, we say, you know what? Okay, I made this failure. I made this mistake. What can I do now? I learned from it. What can I do now to get better in my life? What are ways that I can, you know, embrace myself?

SPEAKER_02:

I love that. And I think that's something that I've always advocated and tried to instill in my kids is it's okay to make mistakes. You're gonna make mistakes and you'll continue to make mistakes your whole life. But how do you actually learn from them? And then what do you do with the information that you have learned moving forward? And so would you say then that encompasses then growth mindset? Yes, absolutely. Well, I love that you kind of have leaned into this growth mindset concept, both I think personally and professionally. So, how have you used that mindset to rebuild your life, your business goals while supporting your partner through residency?

SPEAKER_00:

It really came down to perspective. Instead of seeing everything I left behind as a loss, I started seeing it as an opportunity to build something new. Yeah. A growth mindset helped me shift from why is this happening to me to what can I create from this? And being with my husband and his residency and how it's so demanding, it inspired me to step into my own lane and to start my tutoring business, to keep growing professionally and to prove that two dreams can grow side by side. And it's about embracing discomfort, taking small steps forward every day, and believing that the hard seasons are shaping something bigger.

SPEAKER_02:

I love that, where it's not taking the victim mentality, like you said, like, why is this happening to me? Or potentially maybe my career has gone on hold. No, you stepped into it, you embraced it, and then you made it your own.

SPEAKER_00:

Yes, absolutely.

SPEAKER_02:

That's awesome. Were there any like routines or tips or anything that helped you stay grounded during this process or helped you stay focused during this process that maybe you would want to share with people?

SPEAKER_00:

Absolutely. During the first year of residency, I thought it was very challenging. And through those challenges, what helped me to get back to me was reading books.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Was reading books, and I started reading different books, and it inspired me to, you know, move forward and not stay where I'm a victim. Like you said earlier, I might be a victim of this life, you know.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

And I know that that's hard to say because a lot of people can't understand this life unless you're living it. Yeah, exactly. And I think as a med spouse, we often, especially in the beginning, we have a victim mindset and it's hard to come out of it sometimes.

SPEAKER_02:

It is, it is, because a lot of times you're alone, you feel like you can't or others can't relate to you. And so I think talking about these things, sharing these experiences, sharing your journey not only encourages others, but it helps them to kind of know it's okay. It's okay to have these feelings. It's okay to kind of pivot from where you were at at this point in life to where you're at now and what those goals look like. And it's okay to kind of focus on you. Yes, absolutely.

SPEAKER_00:

That's how you grow. You have to do hard things. That's the only way.

SPEAKER_02:

I 100% agree. I think that's great advice. The the hard stuff is what molds you, it's what it's it shapes you.

SPEAKER_00:

Yes. And I've always believed that if something feels challenging, that's probably where we need to be. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_02:

Sometimes being in the uncomfortable is exactly where you need to be.

SPEAKER_00:

Yes, exactly. Going out of your comfort zone. That's part of growth mindset.

unknown:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

So, you know, going back to kind of what you had touched base on before, did you ever struggle with like feeling guilty or comparison, feeling like your dreams were less important than your partners because you signed up for this medical journey, but also your life can't be on hold. So, did you ever struggle with those feelings?

SPEAKER_00:

I did. When we matched here, I knew what I had to let go of. And that was very difficult. I didn't want to let go. I did not want to let go. And moving here and that I that first year was dark. It's hard, it's not easy. And then you move to a completely different city, and some of your friends eventually, you know, you drift apart, and that's difficult as well.

SPEAKER_02:

No, I I totally agree. And so you've built something so meaningful with your little minds, big futures. And what does it look like to follow your own dreams while you're standing beside someone in such a demanding field?

SPEAKER_00:

It's a lot of balance, communication. There are seasons where each partner has to give a little bit more, and then the other one has to shift. So that that's a big part of you know, being with a partner with such a demanding role. And as physician spouses, we all know what that feels like.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. And I liked the fact when you're talking about that kind of shifting, because I think what each of you need in certain seasons of life or what your demands are in life or in your careers change. And so I love the shift mentality. And I think that setting up those expectations with that open communication, like you had talked about, helps. Okay, here's what this four weeks, six weeks, eight weeks is gonna look like during my training. And here's what you can expect from me and my schedule, and here's what I need from you. And then vice versa, right? You can say, hey, I'm starting up this business, and here's what it's gonna look like for me, and here's what I'm needing from you.

SPEAKER_00:

I've learned that supporting someone else's dream doesn't mean you have to shrink your own. And that took that first year of residency because I felt like I had to shrink. I gave up everything. Like, oh, I don't know what I'm gonna do. And right, it was, I can't even explain it. Like, it's a little bit depressing. And I would like to know if other med spouses also go through that, especially the first year of residency.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, from so many people that I have talked with, myself included, you do feel that. You know, a lot of us are moving from our comfort zone. We are moving from what we know. I left my career to stay home with our kids. I know a lot of times people are changing careers or leaving their careers. And I think sometimes you kind of get lost, you know, what that identity was and trying to find it again or recreate it or change because you're ready for something different. And so I do think it's it's a difficult time for both of you, you know, for various different reasons. So how you felt and were feeling is I feel like a lot of med spouses and, you know, other other spouses and relationships, maybe in a military. I use that as an example a lot of times because sometimes they are overseas and you are kind of here on your own, figuring things out in a new area as well. And so, yes to your question, the the long answer I gave you is it, but yes, you you felt exactly how I think a lot of us are feeling or did feel.

SPEAKER_00:

And now that I'm in this second year, I feel like I found the strength that creating something that's mine, it just lights me up again while still being a supportive partner.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. And I love that for you, I can see it. You know, when you talk, I can see it in your face. And I have no doubt that what you are pouring into these families is also coming back to you tenfold. And I um know that they are so thankful for what you're doing for them.

SPEAKER_00:

Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_02:

Yes. So tell our listeners more about your actual business, Little Minds, Big Futures, what you actually do, how does that look? Is it in person? Is it virtual? Like, let's just give them kind of a bird's eye view of what that is.

SPEAKER_00:

Sure. So with Little Minds, Big Futures, it's a tutoring business. So I am tutoring students both in person and online, depends on what the family needs. And every child that I need, I have a first session with them. And I get to know the child and see, like, okay, what are their ways that they learn? And some of them are a little bit like to play, some of them need worksheets, some of them need, you know, a little bit more reading. So I go in and I see on what they need, and I make a curriculum just for them. It's not a one size fits all. Right. And one thing that I do that I working in the school board, I see that teachers don't implement growth mindset. And I think it's something every teacher should implement in their students. I do that by building their the students' confidence, by no encouraging them. All the small wins, they're starting to read, you know, they got their first full sentence. Yes, you did it.

SPEAKER_02:

I love it.

SPEAKER_00:

And it's a celebration.

SPEAKER_02:

Sure, sure. Encouraging for them. And as far as what you tutor, is it all subjects, all ages, or is it something very specific?

SPEAKER_00:

So right now I am just teaching literacy and teaching students who are having a little bit of difficulty reading and the speed with their reading.

SPEAKER_02:

And as far as ages, do you have yeah? So my general ages are K to grade five. Okay. Okay. And if somebody listening has a student or has a child that would benefit from this, how can they best reach out to you and get in touch with you?

SPEAKER_00:

So they can reach out to me on my Instagram, little mindsbigures. Mm-hmm. And I will respond as soon as I can.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay. So they can just send you a DM and then you guys start messaging that way and they can inquire. And is it usually like a once-a-week tutoring? Is that, like you said, not a one size fits all? It's just dependent on what they need. And then that, of course, would dictate cost and pricing.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. So some families want twice a week, some families want every day, some maybe once a week. So again, it's not a one size fits all. Every family would want something different.

SPEAKER_02:

And as far as where they're located, whether it's Canada, the states, overseas, does it matter where they're located?

SPEAKER_00:

Well, if I'm teaching online, I can teach anywhere in the world. But if they want a local tutor, I currently teach in Winnipeg.

SPEAKER_02:

Awesome. Lauren, thank you so much for just being here, sharing your story, your heart. Like I said, as a parent, this is something that I know is very much needed. And it has opened my eyes to what a growth mindset is. I'm gonna definitely get the book and read it. But just what you are doing for these kiddos and families is amazing. And I definitely feel like there's a huge need for it. And I always wrap up every one of my interviews with guests with the same two questions. So the first one is what advice would you offer to your younger self?

SPEAKER_00:

I would tell my younger self to stop planning every single detail because this life doesn't follow a script. Yep. Residency, long hours, a lot of missed moments, holidays. They're all part of our story. And I remind myself that my identity doesn't have to shrink to fit around medicine. It can grow alongside it.

SPEAKER_02:

I love that. That's great advice. And you're right, you know, there's so many curveballs that get thrown at us, and we've got to think quickly. We have to change some of our plans. And it may not go the way that we had hoped, but it's definitely going the way it's supposed to go.

SPEAKER_00:

Absolutely. I agree with that.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. And the second question is just always something for fun. So if your life was a reality TV show, what would the title be?

SPEAKER_00:

Probably the waiting room. Because that's what it feels like. Waiting for the match results, waiting for the call shifts to end, waiting for the next chapter.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, just waiting for what is next. Yeah. That is a great title. And I think every one of our listeners that are in some sort of medical relationship can definitely resonate to that. Well, thank you for being here and just sharing your journey and the courage that you had to start over and the commitment to grow and that our identities aren't defined by our circumstances, but how we rise within them. And so for any of our listeners, please connect with Lauren if this resonates with you. If you've got any questions or you want to learn more about her little minds, big future tutoring business, please message her and get connected. Lauren, thanks again so much for your time today. Thank you so much for having me. Yes, I loved every minute of it. And I think that what you're doing is great. And for our listeners, please make sure to leave a review or feel free to send a DM to Lauren if you would like to connect or have any questions. And until next time, that's a wrap on this episode of Behind the White Coat. I hope today's conversation left you feeling more understood and supported. And if you enjoyed this episode, I would love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it with another physician spouse. Your support helps more of us to connect. Keep in mind this podcast is for you. So let's keep this conversation going. DM me on Instagram at Amanda Barron Realtor with your thoughts, topic ideas, questions, or even guest suggestions. I would really love to hear from you. Thanks for spending part of your day with me, and remember, you are never in this alone. See you next time.