I am writing in response to Steve Eddison’s article “Floodlights and tears” (4 October). His piece did nearly move me to tears, but maybe not for the reason he hoped. Last week, my five-year-old daughter performed in her Harvest Festival assembly in front of an admiring crowd that did not include her mother.

Was this because I couldn’t be bothered to turn up? No, it was because I’m a newly qualified teacher who left for work at 6.40am that morning and returned at 6pm, all to fulfil my selfish, burning ambition of earning enough money to feed my family.

I feel physically sick when I miss those kinds of events and I have to deal with endless guilt as well as a heavy timetable.

While I accept that Mr Eddison may know Keira’s family and be basing his judgement of the situation on that, life is not always as simple as some people like to believe.

Kathryn Strachecky, Newly qualified teacher.