PLEASE SPONSOR ME for my 10k!
Thanks so much for all your support.
September 2011 Ran! Jacqueline and I managed to complete the course in 1 hour and 10 minutes - towards the end of the field at 180 out of 216. Very proud to have finished, with only a little bit of a walk, at the hardest part - running back past the finishing line and away, until we turned for home. (see http://www.thefixevents.com/content/the-acf-every-step-counts-10k-run-results-2011/)
Running, running, running - it seems like everyday! Had a lovely 8k run with Jacqueline this week. We can do the distance, if not our hoped-for time. But then again, with the wind in the right direction...
Also observing another fantastic teacher, and trying to study as well as convice my children that the beginning of term is just as exciting as the summer holidays!
August 2011 I've observed a really inspiring teacher, and am now preparing another assessed teaching session for mid-September. Oh, and training for my 10km run in 2 weeks! My friend Jacqueline is running too, and we're aiming to do it in an hour, but I'm not sure I've done enough. I've still got a bit of time left, so fingers crossed (and feet pounding!). Meanwhile, I'd better get back to the studying.
Hurray, I got a B (80%) for my exam! I got very nervous with my interactive teaching session, but got a B- and loads of really helpful feedback, so I can improve next time. And that's my 2nd module done.
July 2011 I am now in the thick of my NCT training: having enjoyed doing 2 reflective essays, I am preparing for a short exam (eek!) and assessed interactive session on gestational diabetes by the end of the month. With the end of the school year, including our middle daughter's last week in nursery, it'll be a very busy month.
To try to keep some balance, I have started running again. I'm enjoying running by myself, and even more running with my oldest daughter alongside on her bicycle - not entirely chat free, but certainly takes me out of myself!
I have convinced a friend to sign up with me for the 10km "Every Step Counts" run on 10th September http://www.thefixevents.com/content/every-step-counts-10k-run/
In these days of recession everyone is really feeling the pinch. The NCT is no exception, and the increasing pressures on maternity services from budget cuts and rising birth rates mean that the charity has as important a role as ever. Any help you can give is very gratefully received.
2010 Well, our gorgeous baby arrived, bang on time, and I enjoyed focusing on her for 9 months before returning to my training.
December 2009 A big THANK YOU to everyone who helped me raise this year's contribution!
WIth all your help I have raised £192.42 online (on this page), plus £119.20 from The Pampered Chef as a result of sales from my evening. In addition you helped me raise £143 in cash during the evening, from a raffle and donations! This is a grand total of £454.51 (including Gift Aid) for this year - thank you again.
I am now taking a (hopefully short) break from my training to have my baby, but looking forward to restarting when things setttle down.
September 2009: I am training to become an antenatal teacher and I have committed to raise a contribution of at least £370/year for the NCT (National Childbirth Trust) during the course, which will take at least 2.5 years, and probably more. I was planning to run 10km, or do some similar event, but I am now expecting my third child in January 2010, so running is off the agenda - for a while at least!
So instead, this year, I have decided to host a Pampered Chef evening: on Tuesday 13th October 2009, at St Augustine's Church Hall in Twickenham. My friend Annie will demonstrate the Pampered Chef products by cooking a couple of dishes (with some audience participation!) so that we can all try the delicious food and see how easy all the products are to use. We will all have a chance to buy products, and the Pampered Chef will donate 10-15% of the sales to the NCT. There will also be other opportunities to donate to the NCT.
My story:
I started training to become an Antenatal Teacher in May 2009, after having 2 children and then being invited to participate in a working party reviewing maternity services at my local hospital. The training is run by the NCT and results in a Diploma of Higher Education, Antenatal Education from the University of Bedfordshire.The course runs over a minimum of 2.5 years, although most people take 4 or more to complete.
So far, my studies have been fascinating, and given me a glimpse into the skills needed to be an antenatal teacher: not only do you need to be totally up to date with medical practices and research, but you must also understand how groups interact, different learning styles, and the impact of your own and clients' experiences. Ultimately, the role of the teacher is not to impart her wisdom, but to help parents discover their own preferences and support informed choice.
Once qualified, an antenatal teacher can run classes in a variety of settings, and for a variety of client groups. These include both NCT and hospital classes, and potentially include clients from all social and educational backgrounds, as well as those with differing abilities to pay for courses. I believe that all parents have a right to accurate information and support in the choices they make.
Just Giving:
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
So please dig deep and donate now.
