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.
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!
Sometimes it's tempting to avoid conversations about perimenopause. Sometimes those of us experiencing it find it hard to talk about it. Sometimes other people feel it's not their concern.
But it's better for everyone if everyone has an awareness
helenclare.substack.com/p/10-reasons...
But it's better for everyone if everyone has an awareness
helenclare.substack.com/p/10-reasons...
10 Reasons Everyone Needs to Know About Menopause
Regardless of Age, Sex or Gender
open.substack.com
November 16, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Sometimes it's tempting to avoid conversations about perimenopause. Sometimes those of us experiencing it find it hard to talk about it. Sometimes other people feel it's not their concern.
But it's better for everyone if everyone has an awareness
helenclare.substack.com/p/10-reasons...
But it's better for everyone if everyone has an awareness
helenclare.substack.com/p/10-reasons...
1/2 We all need a little help sometimes - especially when perimenopause or menopause struggles land on top of an already challenging job!
I work with schools to build awareness and understanding;
to help those staff figure out a job way forward;
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
I work with schools to build awareness and understanding;
to help those staff figure out a job way forward;
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
November 15, 2025 at 8:02 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.
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.
1/2 I have to be honest I have memories of being in staffrooms (when all schools had staffrooms) where someone sat in the corner moaning about everything and sucking all the air out of the room.
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
open.substack.com/pub/helencla...
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
open.substack.com/pub/helencla...
Non-toxic negativity
When is being negative not toxic?
open.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:30 AM
1/2 I have to be honest I have memories of being in staffrooms (when all schools had staffrooms) where someone sat in the corner moaning about everything and sucking all the air out of the room.
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
open.substack.com/pub/helencla...
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
open.substack.com/pub/helencla...
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.
I'd love it if they'd give us all regular bone density checks! But they don't.
This is a really useful tool to give you a sense of your risk factor for osteoporosis. If it's high you can talk to your doctor about a DEXA scan.
theros.org.uk/risk-checker
This is a really useful tool to give you a sense of your risk factor for osteoporosis. If it's high you can talk to your doctor about a DEXA scan.
theros.org.uk/risk-checker
Osteoporosis risk checker
Take our osteoporosis risk checker and get a personalised report on your bone health in just five minutes. 3.5 million people in the UK are currently living with osteoporosis – a condition where bones...
theros.org.uk
November 3, 2025 at 7:06 AM
I'd love it if they'd give us all regular bone density checks! But they don't.
This is a really useful tool to give you a sense of your risk factor for osteoporosis. If it's high you can talk to your doctor about a DEXA scan.
theros.org.uk/risk-checker
This is a really useful tool to give you a sense of your risk factor for osteoporosis. If it's high you can talk to your doctor about a DEXA scan.
theros.org.uk/risk-checker
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?
1/3 It can be terrifying. You're standing up in front of a class or a meeting. You know what you're going to say. You've said it many times before. It's all stacked up in your brain like slides on an old fashioned deck.
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
open.substack.com/pub/helencla...
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
open.substack.com/pub/helencla...
Memory Hacks for Menopausal Moments
In between perimenopause and pain medication, I've spent the last decade or more with the memory capacity of a dipsomaniac goldfish.
open.substack.com
November 1, 2025 at 8:58 AM
1/3 It can be terrifying. You're standing up in front of a class or a meeting. You know what you're going to say. You've said it many times before. It's all stacked up in your brain like slides on an old fashioned deck.
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
open.substack.com/pub/helencla...
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd
open.substack.com/pub/helencla...
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
1/3 Apart from the question of 'does this illustrator think we go through the menopausal transition at 70?' the other question is "What is the real me?"
We only spend half our lives ovulating. Is that the real bit?
We only spend half our lives ovulating. Is that the real bit?
October 27, 2025 at 7:14 AM
1/3 Apart from the question of 'does this illustrator think we go through the menopausal transition at 70?' the other question is "What is the real me?"
We only spend half our lives ovulating. Is that the real bit?
We only spend half our lives ovulating. Is that the real bit?
Perimenopause can be the thing that scuppers a teacher's career. It can also be something that they learn from, a transition that solidifies them as people and professionals. The difference? Support.
This is what I do. This is how much it costs.
#Edusky #EduskyUk #WomenEd
This is what I do. This is how much it costs.
#Edusky #EduskyUk #WomenEd
October 26, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Our anxiety can suddenly spike in perimenopause. But was it always there? Did we just call it pressure and override it?
helenclare.substack.com/p/have-women...
helenclare.substack.com/p/have-women...
Have Women Been Raised to Worry?
“In perimenopause I was incapacitated by anxiety and I had to do something about it.
helenclare.substack.com
October 25, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Our anxiety can suddenly spike in perimenopause. But was it always there? Did we just call it pressure and override it?
helenclare.substack.com/p/have-women...
helenclare.substack.com/p/have-women...
The Menopause Cloak is finished.
We're delighted with it. Being inside that hood, with it's velvet lining and lace trim and the smell of herbs is a safe place to be.
Wearing the cloak feels special. You can hide in it, dance in it, play in it, speak in it, lead with it, share with it.
We're delighted with it. Being inside that hood, with it's velvet lining and lace trim and the smell of herbs is a safe place to be.
Wearing the cloak feels special. You can hide in it, dance in it, play in it, speak in it, lead with it, share with it.
October 24, 2025 at 6:10 AM
The Menopause Cloak is finished.
We're delighted with it. Being inside that hood, with it's velvet lining and lace trim and the smell of herbs is a safe place to be.
Wearing the cloak feels special. You can hide in it, dance in it, play in it, speak in it, lead with it, share with it.
We're delighted with it. Being inside that hood, with it's velvet lining and lace trim and the smell of herbs is a safe place to be.
Wearing the cloak feels special. You can hide in it, dance in it, play in it, speak in it, lead with it, share with it.