Trust Director of Teacher Development, Tracy Goodyear, shares her experience of maternity leave and the ways she maintained a sense of herself alongside raising her second son.

When our first son was born, my partner took on the mental load while I continued working full time. It was an agreement we’d made in the years before fertility treatment. She was the one juggling childminder drop-offs, remembering the Calpol doses, and mentally tracking every milestone while I was determined to keep my professional momentum going. It was a juggle, and not always a graceful one for me and my butterfly mind—but it worked for us. 

Then came Isaac, born in December 2024, and this time I was the one carrying. I found myself wondering what this shift might mean for me—personally, 

professionally, emotionally. Would I feel disconnected from work and lose my sense of self? Would I still be able to contribute meaningfully to the projects and networks I care so much about? 

Turns out, I couldn’t switch off. Not completely, anyway. Alongside the indescribable bliss of the newborn bubble, ideas for our national network, the Trust-Wide CPD Leaders Forum kept bubbling up- perhaps I was freed by daily admin restraints, and I found myself craving connection with colleagues to discuss exciting developments and ideas. I stayed in touch—sometimes through lengthy WhatsApp voice messages, sometimes through sugar-fuelled meet-ups. It wasn’t just about staying updated; it was about staying me. I’d seen how my partner returned from maternity leave to a school she barely recognised, with a shift in professional status and confidence and the small matter of a global pandemic to manage. I didn’t want that to happen to me, and we both recognised it was what was needed in those hormone-fuelled months post-partum for me to be the best parent.  

I’ve been incredibly fortunate. So many CPD spaces are now child-friendly, and I’ve felt genuinely welcomed by them. The Trust Wide CPD Leaders’ Forum monthly meetings I was running alongside brilliant friend and co-chair Sam Gibbs were a joy, and the Flourishing Trusts conference with the National Society of Education was a highlight of my leave. Isaac came along for the ride—snuggled in my arms (or whoever wanted a cuddle from him at the time!), wide-eyed and curious—and somehow, he became the unofficial poster-boy for a flourishing education system of 2040… One woman even stopped me to say congratulations and called it “an amazing thing” that I was there, doing motherhood and leadership simultaneously. I didn’t feel amazing—I just felt like I was doing what felt natural and right for me. I definitely didn’t want it to be something others felt they had to do, but I did want people to see that it was possible.  

Being present in those spaces mattered. It reminded me that professional growth doesn’t pause for parenthood—it adapts, it flexes, and sometimes, it flourishes because of it. I wasn’t just showing up for myself- I was showing up for the idea that parenthood and professionalism can coexist, even in the messy, sleep-deprived reality of it all. I don’t think we can ever detach ourselves from a reality that is that you don’t just teach, you are a teacher.  

Now I’m back at work, four days a week, and we’re navigating our new normal. Two mums, two boys, and a daily dose of drop-offs, pick-ups, and making sure everyone’s heading in the right direction. It’s chaotic, but in our house, we call it ‘beautiful chaos’. 

There are still moments of doubt. Moments where I wonder if I’m doing enough, being enough, balancing enough both at home and at work. But then I remember the conversations I’ve had over pastries and exciting future agendas, the warm welcomes, the shared stories from other parents in education. I remember Isaac’s little face at the conference, and the way people smiled—not just at him, but at what he represented and the hope we should all feel in opportunity and youth. 

This journey has taught me that staying connected isn’t just about emails and meetings—it’s about identity, confidence, and community. It’s about making space for ourselves in the professional world, even when our personal world is shifting beneath our feet. 

So here’s to the sugar-fuelled catch-ups, the child-friendly conferences, and the colleagues who make it all feel possible. Here’s to Isaac, our little poster-boy for a flourishing education system and his big brilliant older brother. And here’s to all the parents carving out space for themselves in the world of education— virtual high five to you all.