Getting Your Life Back: New Possibilities After Maternity Leave Artwork

The Adventures After Teaching Podcast

Sharing inspirational stories from teachers who have chosen to walk away from classroom to successfully transition to a new career. Advice, tips and ideas for exhausted teachers who know there's a difference between "giving up" and "having had enough". Join me to explore all things teacher burnout, career and business coaching and get plenty of ideas for your very own adventure after teaching.

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The Adventures After Teaching Podcast

Getting Your Life Back: New Possibilities After Maternity Leave

June 10, 2025 • Joanne Howard • Season 5 • Episode 16

“If they can do it, I can do it.”

Former Primary Deputy Head Natalie was on her second maternity leave when she decided to explore her career options outside of teaching. With creeping anxiety about returning to work and worries about not being present enough at home, she shares that “it had been a long time coming for me.”

Now a Neurodiversity Family Support Practitioner with the NHS, Natalie is enjoying flexibility, renewed confidence, time for professional development, and family balance in her new role. Best of all - she now has her evenings and weekends back!

In this episode, we also talk about:

Perfectionism vs balance
New motherhood and returning to work
Dealing with feelings of failure
Accessing community support
Regaining a sense of who you are
Financial planning
Setting job alerts and searching for similar roles
The benefits of hybrid working
Navigating the holidays with small children
Top tips for intervention and well-being based roles

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If you're looking for step-by-step support to find and secure a new job or start your own business, check out the Adventures After Teaching Academy which will help successfully you leave the classroom!