How do you balance being a mom and the Assistant Principal at Bear Exploration Center and Forest Avenue Academic Magnet?
Brandi: Some days are mentally heavy. I try to compartmentalize my different worlds. When I get home, I turn off my day to focus on my family and get that mental break. Also, I try not to let anything happening at home affect my work. It’s also easy working at two schools that I love. I am blessed to call these faculty members my family. We celebrate, encourage, and pray for each other daily.
You’ve been with MPS for over two decades. What advice would you give to new moms entering the workforce?
Brandi: Allow yourself grace because being a new mom and a working mom is tough. Home is home, and work is work. Try to maintain a balance, not mix the two, and be present at home. Nothing is more important than spending time with your children and family. Time goes by quickly, and we’ve all heard it said before – the days are long, but the years are short. Do your best never to miss a moment.
How does motherhood keep you grounded as a person?
Brandi: It helps me to stay in the moment. Motherhood is both rewarding and challenging. It made me a different person and changed me in ways I never imagined. It also made me appreciate my mother more. Motherhood taught me how to love someone more than I ever knew possible.
You have two children (a senior and a fourth grader). How does your parenting style differ between the two?
Brandi: Emma (17) and Jackson (9) are unique children. Both are pleasers but in different ways. Emma was compliant as a child, and Jackson questioned everything. What worked for Emma did not for Jackson. I had to learn to parent and discipline each one differently. I’ve learned not to sweat the small stuff with the second child.
What hobbies do you enjoy when you’re not in mom or work mode?
Brandi: I’m always in mom mode, and my favorite thing is watching my children play sports. When I have free time, I love spending it at the beach, finding new fun places to have dinner, lazy days with Netflix, and hanging out with friends.
What’s the best part about being a mom?
Brandi: Unconditional love, theirs and mine. Knowing that God picked me to be their mom is the best job in the world. Being a mom slows life down. I don’t wish for the next big event to be here. A simple day at home snuggling on the sofa or playing cards around the table holds just as much value and memories as a big occasion or holiday. Motherhood makes me step back and appreciate all the small things.
How do you teach your children to find value in themselves and stay authentic to who they are?
Brandi: I’ve always taught my kids to know who they are and whose they are. They certainly are not perfect, but they know they are children of God and have been raised to know their worth and value.
How do you address technology/social media in a day and age when kids have so much access at their fingertips?
Brandi: It’s a daily battle with both children. I do not allow devices at the dinner table and ensure both children leave their phones downstairs at night. Jackson being the youngest has more restrictions. He’s only permitted to play Xbox on the weekends. Sometimes, I allow a mid-week free night after homework is finished. I try to teach Emma to self-regulate her time spent on social media. It’s hard, really hard, and I’m not always sure how successful I have been with this.
What parenting hack did you gain from your parents?
Brandi: Say what you mean and mean what you say. Consistency is important. I try hard to follow through with what I say. However, sometimes it can be difficult, and I must reevaluate the lesson I’m trying to teach at that moment. Ultimately, I want my children to understand what is expected of them.
If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself about raising kids?
Brandi: Get to, not have to. Don’t look at everything as having to do it, but rather getting to do it. One day you won’t get to do it anymore. Cherish everything!
Brandi Moody is a native of Montgomery. She’s married to her husband, Jon, for almost 20 years. They have two daughters: Emma (17) and Jackson (9).
Author: Staff
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