A primary school teacher has become a new mum and now a published children's author all in the space of lockdown.

Jodi Heyes, 32, from Cardenden, will publish her first book 'When Worley Gets Brave' next month, which she also illustrated, to help children understand their emotions.

Along side working as a teacher in Glenrothes, Jodi also has a coaching and therapy business to help children with their mental health but her workshops were put on hold last year.

That's when inspiration struck to write a children's book, bringing together her teaching background and therapy expertise to create 'Worley the worry monster' - a whimsical character that faces challenges just like everyone else.

Jodi said: "Being a primary school teacher, our children are at the heart of everything I do and when lockdown hit, I really took it quite hard that I was unable to support our children in the ways I usually would.

"Outside of teaching I have a passion for supporting the emotional well-being of our children.

"When lockdown first hit, as well as expecting my first child, I had no idea how I would be able to continue to support our children and during a pandemic, it was more vital than ever!

"My gorgeous daughter Luna arrived in May 2020 and I fell in love in an instant. She really is the driving force behind everything I now do.

"I am so passionate about making sure our future generations are equipped with the knowledge and understanding about their emotions in order for them to flourish into the best versions of themselves and I knew I needed to do something else.

" I have always enjoyed writing, especially using rhyme, so now was the perfect time to put all the pieces of the puzzle together!"

Jodi's desire to help the next generations as sprung from her own childhood traumas which went on to effect her in adult life.

"I lost my dad when I was 10 and also my best friend to cancer when she I was 14," she explained.

"I experienced a lot of bullying too which has the biggest impact on me as a child.

"When I went through bullying in the workplace, it took me back to my childhood and I hit rock bottom.

"Growing up I was not fully aware of my feelings and had very few strategies to know how to regulate my emotions leading to some rather big breakdowns as an adult.

"It is from being in a very dark place as an adult that I have found my inner strength to fight back and become stronger and emotionally resilient.

"This strength led me to became trained in several therapeutic techniques.

"If we can understand our emotions and regulate them as children then we are setting ourselves up to be stable as an adult."

Jodi also thinks the book will come just at the right time for children who have had to shut themselves away all year and might be scared to try something new.

She added: "It is a lovely story for 4–7-year-olds about taking yourself out of your comfort zone to try new things.

"Worley’s story is a fab way to engage children with these cute little monsters and learn how to develop their confidence.

"The book also included suggested activities for parent and adult readers.

"I'm also now writing my second story for the series about Worley and Co!

When Worley Gets Brave is available to pre-order: jodi@futurefootstepscoaching.co.uk or www.futurefootstepscoaching.co.uk