Time was Moving Faster than I Realized

by Brandi Kelly

December is Remembrance Month at The Worthy Educator!

I’ve held many titles in my life—wife, mother, social worker, and superintendent (just to name a few). Each one shaped me in its own way. But this next role? I wasn’t sure I was ready for it. Not because it was hard, but because it felt like a quiet whisper that time was moving faster than I realized. This new title?

I wrestled with it more than I expected. What would they call me? Did I feel like a grandmother? I turned the names over in my mind, searching for one that fit. But all that overthinking disappeared the moment I met them—my two grandsons. Two babies born just six months apart, each one arriving with his own tiny bundle of wonder.

Christmas 2023 became one of the most meaningful holidays of my life. Our family gathered around these new little lights, and suddenly the season felt different—softer, fuller, and overflowing with HOPE. The Christmas card I created that year captured exactly that: the joy and promise that filled our home:

As I think about this season again, I’m reminded of something important—especially for my fellow educators. We carry so many roles, responsibilities, and expectations. Our professional lives matter deeply. But this holiday season, I hope you’ll give yourself permission to pause. To breathe. To notice the small, beautiful moments that faith and family bring.

Slow down long enough to feel the wonder again. Let joy find you. Let hope restore you.

You deserve that—and so much more!

Dr. Brandi Kelly is an impactful voice in education, and the founder of Spark HOPE Edu through which she supports leaders wherever they sit on the org chart to bring their most authentic, resilient selves to the work every day. She is also the most recent addition to The Worthy Educator Speakers Bureau. As a proud grandmother, Brandi is excited for everything this season is about to bring! You can contact Brandi via email here.