Helen Clare
@helenaclare.bsky.social
I help schools support their staff through perimenopause and menopause so that they can keep on doing their jobs in the way we know they can.
It's Advent Tomorrow.
Over the next 24 days I'm going to be opening an advent calendar door each day, and explaining just what that little bit of chocolate has to do with perimenopause and menopause, and specifically menopause in schools.
It'll be fun. And useful!
#Edusky #EduskyUk #WomenEd
Over the next 24 days I'm going to be opening an advent calendar door each day, and explaining just what that little bit of chocolate has to do with perimenopause and menopause, and specifically menopause in schools.
It'll be fun. And useful!
#Edusky #EduskyUk #WomenEd
November 30, 2025 at 12:56 PM
1/3 Meet my new branding, thanks to G Sabini-Roberts
It's bold, clear and fun.
And you might not feel as if menopause or perimenopause are fun right now - but I promise you once you get me in a room with a group of your menopausers it will be! Tough, honest, supportive and fun.
It's bold, clear and fun.
And you might not feel as if menopause or perimenopause are fun right now - but I promise you once you get me in a room with a group of your menopausers it will be! Tough, honest, supportive and fun.
November 28, 2025 at 8:14 AM
1/3 Meet my new branding, thanks to G Sabini-Roberts
It's bold, clear and fun.
And you might not feel as if menopause or perimenopause are fun right now - but I promise you once you get me in a room with a group of your menopausers it will be! Tough, honest, supportive and fun.
It's bold, clear and fun.
And you might not feel as if menopause or perimenopause are fun right now - but I promise you once you get me in a room with a group of your menopausers it will be! Tough, honest, supportive and fun.
1/2 Don't get me wrong. Face to face work is lovely - and I enjoy being in a real room with all the trust and support and laughter - but that can all happen in a virtual room too.
I'm in Manchester - I do travel. When the trains work it's a great day out.
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
I'm in Manchester - I do travel. When the trains work it's a great day out.
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
November 27, 2025 at 7:51 AM
1/3 I had terrible skin problems when I was in peri-menopause - rosacea, dermatographia, contact dermatitis. I spent months trying different face creams - they'd be ok for a week and then wham! I'd be red, blotchy and sore again.
Eventually I landed on Aveeno.
Eventually I landed on Aveeno.
November 26, 2025 at 6:30 AM
1/3 I had terrible skin problems when I was in peri-menopause - rosacea, dermatographia, contact dermatitis. I spent months trying different face creams - they'd be ok for a week and then wham! I'd be red, blotchy and sore again.
Eventually I landed on Aveeno.
Eventually I landed on Aveeno.
1/2 I've had my water kefir granules longer than my boyfriend!
I got them during lockdown. I keep them fed on sugar water and they make me lots of lovely water kefir.
It's full of lactobacillus and other useful bacteria - and a lot easier to make than either milk kefir or kombucha.
I got them during lockdown. I keep them fed on sugar water and they make me lots of lovely water kefir.
It's full of lactobacillus and other useful bacteria - and a lot easier to make than either milk kefir or kombucha.
November 25, 2025 at 7:16 AM
1/2 I've had my water kefir granules longer than my boyfriend!
I got them during lockdown. I keep them fed on sugar water and they make me lots of lovely water kefir.
It's full of lactobacillus and other useful bacteria - and a lot easier to make than either milk kefir or kombucha.
I got them during lockdown. I keep them fed on sugar water and they make me lots of lovely water kefir.
It's full of lactobacillus and other useful bacteria - and a lot easier to make than either milk kefir or kombucha.
1/2 I know. It's a terrible joke. But there's a serious side to this.
Perimenopause can sometimes bring bowel issues. Our hormones can speed up the transition of food through the gut - or slow it down. We're a little more inclined to allergies - which can include food intolerances.
Perimenopause can sometimes bring bowel issues. Our hormones can speed up the transition of food through the gut - or slow it down. We're a little more inclined to allergies - which can include food intolerances.
November 23, 2025 at 1:28 PM
1/2 I know. It's a terrible joke. But there's a serious side to this.
Perimenopause can sometimes bring bowel issues. Our hormones can speed up the transition of food through the gut - or slow it down. We're a little more inclined to allergies - which can include food intolerances.
Perimenopause can sometimes bring bowel issues. Our hormones can speed up the transition of food through the gut - or slow it down. We're a little more inclined to allergies - which can include food intolerances.
My (chimney) breast job took 6 months in the end - but look at the difference!
I still have some more decorating to do in the room and I also have the fun job of finding more pictures to hang off the picture rail.
I'm absolutely delighted with it.
I still have some more decorating to do in the room and I also have the fun job of finding more pictures to hang off the picture rail.
I'm absolutely delighted with it.
November 20, 2025 at 6:23 AM
My (chimney) breast job took 6 months in the end - but look at the difference!
I still have some more decorating to do in the room and I also have the fun job of finding more pictures to hang off the picture rail.
I'm absolutely delighted with it.
I still have some more decorating to do in the room and I also have the fun job of finding more pictures to hang off the picture rail.
I'm absolutely delighted with it.
Isn't that nice! Fortunately I just love talking to school staff about perimenopause and menopause, how to weather them in a challenging working environment - and how to support their colleagues.
Would this be helpful in your school?
It costs £140.
Drop me a line.
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
Would this be helpful in your school?
It costs £140.
Drop me a line.
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
November 18, 2025 at 6:25 AM
I thought a picture of Lysander being a lovely idiot might brighten up your Monday morning - he has certainly brightened up mine.
Have a great week!
Have a great week!
November 17, 2025 at 6:19 AM
I thought a picture of Lysander being a lovely idiot might brighten up your Monday morning - he has certainly brightened up mine.
Have a great week!
Have a great week!
1/2 In case you haven't 'met me' yet. I'm Helen and I help schools support their staff through perimenopause and menopause so that they can keep on doing the jobs they love in the way we know they can.
November 11, 2025 at 7:09 AM
1/2 In case you haven't 'met me' yet. I'm Helen and I help schools support their staff through perimenopause and menopause so that they can keep on doing the jobs they love in the way we know they can.
1/4 Yes, you need a menopause policy.
📝 You need it because you have a legal obligation to support employees through perimenopause and menopause.
📝 You need it because it enables you to consider what that support might look like - and put reasonable boundaries on it.
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
📝 You need it because you have a legal obligation to support employees through perimenopause and menopause.
📝 You need it because it enables you to consider what that support might look like - and put reasonable boundaries on it.
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
November 10, 2025 at 5:47 AM
1/2 "Go blet yourself!"
"You absolute blet!"
"We got completely bletted last night!"
I feel that blet would be a fantastic swear word.
But in fact these medlar are bletting. They're are in a box with a banana until they go brown and soggy and rather off-putting.
"You absolute blet!"
"We got completely bletted last night!"
I feel that blet would be a fantastic swear word.
But in fact these medlar are bletting. They're are in a box with a banana until they go brown and soggy and rather off-putting.
November 9, 2025 at 12:34 PM
1/2 "Go blet yourself!"
"You absolute blet!"
"We got completely bletted last night!"
I feel that blet would be a fantastic swear word.
But in fact these medlar are bletting. They're are in a box with a banana until they go brown and soggy and rather off-putting.
"You absolute blet!"
"We got completely bletted last night!"
I feel that blet would be a fantastic swear word.
But in fact these medlar are bletting. They're are in a box with a banana until they go brown and soggy and rather off-putting.
It's all about the conversations! Supporting school colleagues through perimenopause and menopause hinges on them being able to have supportive conversations - whether that's about a moment of empathy or digging into the realities of offering adjustments.
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
November 7, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Does perimenopause ever make you feel like this? As if there's no way out? Or maybe there's a way out, but you just can't see it?
You might not be able to walk away from perimenopause - but you can find ways to deal with it so you can get on with life and feel good!
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
You might not be able to walk away from perimenopause - but you can find ways to deal with it so you can get on with life and feel good!
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
November 6, 2025 at 6:18 AM
1/4 No, Michael Rosen probably wasn't talking about perimenopause when he wrote The Bear Song, but there is a profound truth in it.
Sometimes we can't skirt things. We can't avoid them. We can't always find a different way. Sometimes going through things is part of our learning and growing.
Sometimes we can't skirt things. We can't avoid them. We can't always find a different way. Sometimes going through things is part of our learning and growing.
November 5, 2025 at 6:23 AM
1/4 No, Michael Rosen probably wasn't talking about perimenopause when he wrote The Bear Song, but there is a profound truth in it.
Sometimes we can't skirt things. We can't avoid them. We can't always find a different way. Sometimes going through things is part of our learning and growing.
Sometimes we can't skirt things. We can't avoid them. We can't always find a different way. Sometimes going through things is part of our learning and growing.
Treating myself to a breast job - a chimney breast job!
It's been a long wait but the joiner is coming on Thursday to build fitted cupboards in the alcoves - so my half term has been about repairing coving and painting the chimney breast ready.
Do you like my ochre?
It's been a long wait but the joiner is coming on Thursday to build fitted cupboards in the alcoves - so my half term has been about repairing coving and painting the chimney breast ready.
Do you like my ochre?
November 2, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Treating myself to a breast job - a chimney breast job!
It's been a long wait but the joiner is coming on Thursday to build fitted cupboards in the alcoves - so my half term has been about repairing coving and painting the chimney breast ready.
Do you like my ochre?
It's been a long wait but the joiner is coming on Thursday to build fitted cupboards in the alcoves - so my half term has been about repairing coving and painting the chimney breast ready.
Do you like my ochre?
1/4 When a challenging job and a challenging time come together it can mean...
💧Not being able to leave the classroom when you need the loo.
💧Struggling to manage moods, including rage, when you're working with children and young people still developing emotional regulation.
#EduskyUK #WomenEd
💧Not being able to leave the classroom when you need the loo.
💧Struggling to manage moods, including rage, when you're working with children and young people still developing emotional regulation.
#EduskyUK #WomenEd
October 31, 2025 at 7:04 AM
🌥Imagine we all recognised what was going on right away.
🌥Imagine we had lots of great strategies for coping at work.
🌥Imagine we were all confident that there was someone at work to listen.
🌥Imagine we knew those conversations would be comfortable and supportive.
#Edusky #EduskyUk #WomenEd
🌥Imagine we had lots of great strategies for coping at work.
🌥Imagine we were all confident that there was someone at work to listen.
🌥Imagine we knew those conversations would be comfortable and supportive.
#Edusky #EduskyUk #WomenEd
October 30, 2025 at 6:04 AM
Our colleagues in menopause need understanding, support and sensible adjustments.
Want to talk about how we can do that?
tidycal.com/haclare/quic...
#Edusky #EduskyUk #WomenEd
Want to talk about how we can do that?
tidycal.com/haclare/quic...
#Edusky #EduskyUk #WomenEd
October 29, 2025 at 6:33 AM
Our colleagues in menopause need understanding, support and sensible adjustments.
Want to talk about how we can do that?
tidycal.com/haclare/quic...
#Edusky #EduskyUk #WomenEd
Want to talk about how we can do that?
tidycal.com/haclare/quic...
#Edusky #EduskyUk #WomenEd
1/2 The best kept secret about peri/menopause?
It's all about you!
Yes, really. Get a little main character energy! Something massive is happening. Your brain is rewiring itself. Your body is changing. You are being prepared for a different time of life.
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
It's all about you!
Yes, really. Get a little main character energy! Something massive is happening. Your brain is rewiring itself. Your body is changing. You are being prepared for a different time of life.
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
October 28, 2025 at 5:59 AM