It's official - a career change...

If you had asked me as a child what I wanted to do when I grew up, I'd have been able to answer in a flash... "I want to be a part-time teacher, a part-time author and a part-time actress."

Over the years, I've dabbled in a bit of theatre production, I've been blogging here 7 years now, which I suppose is the closest thing to writing I've ever done, but as time went on, my eyes turned increasingly to teaching.

In 2008 I trained to become a primary teacher and never looked back.

I loved it.

Yes, there were times I wished there wasn't so much paperwork, yes there were times I felt I was drowning under a pile of 30 literacy books and 30 numeracy books and 30 topic books, yes, there were times my year 6 classes drove me round the bend, yes, there were times when the sheer volume of planning meant I had no weekend at all.

But I adored it; the buzz of the classroom, seeing the penny drop, watching children come out of their shell, seeing them getting excited about their learning, finding little cards and notes they had written me on my desk. I felt like I was right where I belonged.

During Teacher Training with a Year 1 class - they are now Year 6!

And then I had children, and suddenly the classroom couldn't be my world anymore. When I returned to work, I felt torn... Torn because I loved my job so very much, but I loved my children even more, and somehow I just couldn't give what I wanted to give to the classroom any more. I couldn't walk into my classroom at 7am and leave at 6pm; I couldn't get home, throw together a quick dinner and then get on with planning and marking. I couldn't do that, because I didn't want to. I wanted to be with the girls.

I couldn't do teaching without giving it everything, I didn't know how to... And yet, I also couldn't give it everything anymore because it wasn't my everything any more.

My "career" had changed the moment I breathed in that newborn smell when Ava was laid across me, seconds after she was born.

And so, on the Friday before Christmas, I did what I knew I needed, and wanted, to do.

I handed in my notice.

It was hard. I welled up as I did it, because I loved it. But right now, for this season, I know that with my little girls is where I want to be. It is the right thing for our family, and I know I'm privileged to be able to step out of work. I know that.

And so its the start of a new chapter for us as a little family. I am officially a Stay-at-Home Mum and that's such an honour. I'm thankful to be able to experience every minute with these two bundles of joy.

One day, I'd love to return to teaching; there is nothing else I can imagine I'd rather do... but for now, I'll be here; wiping noses, changing nappies and reading picture books.

Right where I want to be.