Dear Tired Educator: I See You

I see you. The weight in your shoulders, the deep breath before you walk into the classroom, the practiced smile that hides the exhaustion underneath. I feel you... because I am you.

There are days when you hold it all together with sheer willpower. When the caffeine and protein shakes are the only things that keep you upright. When you cry in your car, wipe your eyes, and then step into the room with a heart full of love and a mind full of chaos.

And yet… you still show up.You show up for your students. You show up with compassion, grace, and patience that feels impossible.

Because that’s who you are. An educator. A healer. A safe place in human form.

You Are Making a Difference

Even when you feel invisible, your presence matters. The quiet student who won’t make eye contact notices your consistency. The one who lashes out still feels your steadiness. The one who seems fine may be watching how you navigate your own storms, learning that it’s okay to have hard days and still show up with heart.

You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be present.

Take a Moment for You

When was the last time you let yourself breathe... like really breathe? Maybe your “safe place” isn’t a yoga mat or a spa weekend (though that sounds amazing). Maybe it’s walking slowly through the grocery store with your AirPods in, pretending to compare prices while really just giving your brain a break. Maybe it’s laying on your classroom floor after the last student leaves, letting the quiet settle around you. Maybe it’s that one friend you text memes to, pray with, or cry with... You know, the one who reminds you that you’re not alone.

Wherever that place is, find it again. Protect it. Let it refill you.

You Are Loved

You are loved by your students... Even the ones who test your patience. You are loved by the parents who never find the right words to thank you. You are loved by those of us who know what it takes to keep showing up in a world that doesn’t always see your sacrifice.

Please, take care of you!

You deserve rest. You deserve peace. You deserve to feel safe, too!!!

From one tired educator to another: You are enough... You are seen... You are loved!!!

With heart,

Dr. Abi

EmpowerED & Thriving – Rooted and Resilient