Last night, I watched two fabulous educational films from Professor Child, a company created by three mothers, Rory Kidder, Jenni O’Keefe, and Sharon Richards. The mission of Professor Child is to empower children during difficult life events. As the founders explain, "children have a powerful voice that is relatable, healing and hopeful. Ultimately, we want children to know they are not alone in what they are experiencing and that much can be learned by simply listening to another child’s story" (Professor Child, About Us). 

Their documentary-style films feature a variety of children who have all experienced a specific topic. The children share their stories, what has helped, what they wish for, advice for other kids, and more. 

As an added bonus, each film comes with a free companion workbook to provide opportunities for further discussion and reflection. 

As school counselors, we are responsible for helping children cope with a variety of difficult circumstances. It can be a challenge to start a group about grief or divorce. Maybe the group dynamics, personality wise, are off. Maybe you don't have enough students in a particular grade level to start a group and therefore, cannot offer this service. Maybe students who could join the group feel uncomfortable speaking about their situation in front of others and would prefer individual counseling. So, what can you do to help students dealing with divorce or grief know that they are not alone? Well, I think these films are a wonderful resource to fit this particular need.

You could show the film based on the chapters that best address your students' needs or use the chapters for different group sessions as an introduction to the day's lesson.

Also, you can look forward to future films from Professor Child called "Siblings and Autism" and "Children of Military Families."

To purchase one or both of these films ("Children and Grief" and "Children and Divorce"), visit Professor Child online. You can order a DVD or a digital copy. Plus, you can download both companion workbooks for FREE. I strongly recommend these resources for your elementary school counseling practice. Check them out today!

I sort of hate to admit this, but I often wonder if my students will still like me? Right now, being one of the younger staff members in my building, I have the "cool" factor. In many ways, I'm like their big sister or their aunt. We're not equals, but we have a smaller generational gap to close. I get them and they get me.

I also worry about emotional fatigue. Will I be able to deal with the stress of this career for 35 years? How will I feel about my life at that point? Will I feel like I've made a difference or will I feel like I misused the time I had during my younger years?

I guess, in the end, all we can do is live in the moment and do the best we can. We may not be able to stop the train, but we can focus on the present. After all, in the coming years, those will be our "good ol' days" that we're striving to get back to. We might as well enjoy them now. 

In the spirit of this type of self-reflection, I thought I'd share a video (above). It does a wonderful job explaining what the "real world" feels like. No one can prepare you for what it's really like to be on your own as a school counselor, including how to deal with outside stressors while still performing your many school counseling duties.

For those of you who have yet to join the profession, please don't think I mean to scare you away from, in my opinion, one of the best jobs there is. I am, however, trying to give you the heads-up that may prevent you leaving the field once you're in it. We often have an idealistic view of the helping professions, thinking we can save the world. Well, I still am quite the optimist, but I now know that saving the world shouldn't be my barometer for success. You have to accept the failures to appreciate the little victories. You have to go to work each day knowing that things probably won't go as planned, that a student may make a bad choice, that a co-worker may be struggling and take it out on you, that a parent may believe their child's story over their teacher's and call you to express their anger.

It's easy to let these unexpected events drag you down. Why is this happening to me?

Well, those who are frustrating you may be saying the same thing to themselves. When we're stuck in traffic, we are angry at those in front of us for not moving quickly enough, almost as if we're not part of the problem - "they" are. If we take a step back, we might realize that those cars behind us are probably feeling the same way...about US.

So, watch the video. Remind yourself why you want to be a school counselor. Recognize that kids and adults who act out are probably responding to difficult circumstances. Take a moment to appreciate your success stories, forgive the missteps, and remember..."This is Water."

When I heard about Flood by Alvaro F. Villa, I was intrigued. In the U.S., we've had a number of natural disasters within the past few months, so this story felt particularly relevant. What makes Flood unique is that it's a wordless picture book; no matter where you are from or what language you speak, your children can understand this story, which is quite beautiful.

Flood is the story of a family who must abandon their home when a violent storm approaches. The gorgeous illustrations show the family during various stages of the process, including the moments during the storm itself, as the family anxiously waits for the flood to subside. The story ends as the family returns to their broken home, rebuilds, and begins a new, more peaceful chapter of their lives. It's clear that Alvaro F. Villa understands kids.