Who would have known what my #edutwitter searches would lead to...

During my first maternity leave I got restless. Some of this was anxiety-fueled and some was needed to keep my overly used teacher braìn active. Sadly the latter sometimes led to more of the former as I thought maybe I'm doing something wrong to not enjoy this "time of my life".

I turned to my trusty friend Twitter to find like-minded people. I stumbled across The #MTPTProject. I looked at a few pages and thought it's all about schools. The membership was for schools in their defence. I also saw  "successful people". Cue imposter syndrome.

I feel in control with evidence and information. So I naturally became a Breastfeeding Peer Supporter after receiving support myself. I felt I was paying it back. I travelled with my family, I met Argentinean peer supporters in Argentina. Other blog posts cover these topics.

I also visited a secondary school for a day to discuss becoming a teacher there through SCITT training. It was really interesting. Although I felt maybe with a new child I may find it challenging with a new subject focus and the studying on top. 

Time passed and I returned to work full time. Still determined to do more and learn more. I visited a Team English conference and an Eastern Professional Exchange Network. I got excited by CPD again, I felt alive.

I applied for an ESOL role and declined it with new offers of change. That summer, I was given a lead role in IQA for English, maths and ESOL. I also started my Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training. 

I soon faced a wobble in confidence, good old imposter syndrome. Plus other changes in the workplace and managing a young child. I'd been doing part of the IQA support for a while, this expanded it and made it official. I was also offered to support on an Erasmus project to do with CPD and Early Career Teaching. I was still teaching classes too.

Cue a global pandemic and the joking by me that people would be bored and there would be a surge of babies by Christmas. I then fell pregnant again! I felt so pleased but anxious. It was an anxious time and adding in uncertainty and pregnancy, it was trying. I wanted to hide away from the world to keep me and my baby safe.

I kept going back to The #MTPTProject to wonder what I could do. Finally I asked Emma the question and signed up shortly after to be a member. I later volunteered to learn a new skill of scheduling the tweets amongst other tasks. Doesn't matter when you do this work. I've learnt so much about support available and built my confidence that you can be on parental leave and do CPD. You can have a family and still be promoted or continue in your progression. Even if that progression direction changes to what you originally thought. Identities and values.

I've also followed up on some ideas for my career, working on my own personal development, receiving some return to work coaching, attended a number of virtual events for peer supporting top up training, joined some #FestivalFridays, #APConnect conference, listened to numerous podcasts, spoken on Joy FM, read and discussed books with #FEReadingCircle and many other bits from my sofa/table with babe in arms or breastfeeding. It has been amazing. CPD at it's best.

I've met some amazing people who I follow in various guises and am so pleased they have humoured my ramblings. The circle of doubt and worry and great ideas! Thank you!

All while dropping off and picking up my eldest from pre-school and now school. The walk is amazing to start the day. Living my best life.

Now my mind is really turning to my return to work and achieving a work/life balance with covering the finances. Onto the #FEParents cycle to signpost and support others.