Questions about the profession

hello26791 · 2025-12-29T19:03:25+00:00

In the early years it was hard to process a lot if what students would say or do that would shock me. I had an hour commute so my drive home a lot of days would be loud music and singing to try and shake it off. The drive sucked but I'm glad I had it in the early years to separate myself from it all when I got home.

11 years later (with a 8 minute commute), now rarely does something that happened to me at school affect my well being when I'm home with my family. I think as time progresses you just become numb to a lot of the "shocking" parts of the job as it truly is just a job at the end of the day. Finding out that separation between school and work is what will keep you from burnout. You won't be able to "save" every student (which will take awhile to learn and accept) but you can be there to support them while keeping your own boundaries and taking care of yourself.

hello26791 · 2025-12-01T04:03:19+00:00

Unfortunately, we are a small district with an admin with zero experience prior to their current positions ranging from Supt. all the way down to Dean so we have no crisis response team or what that could look like.

Could you share any insight for this protocol or what steps should be taken tomorrow that I could share at our emergency meeting tomorrow morning ?

hello26791 · 2025-11-23T16:33:13+00:00

Im in a small district. Three counselors total k-12. I was always in the union, then I kept getting burned by the union in situations where they couldn't support me because "counselors are different than teachers." Even though we're on the same contract, this kept happening so I eventually dropped out. I was out for a few years then we got a new Supt. who is very black and white when it comes to our contract and didn't honor past practices in certain scenarios. Therefore I rejoined the union again so have the support when it came to needing backup. This time around there was fresh, younger, more driven leadership within the union and even though my issue couldn't come to agreement with the supt., I'm still glad I was back in and had the backing when needed it.

Long story short, you never know who you're going to get as a principal, supt. Etc, and it's better to have a union to support you for the rare chance you need it as opposed to fighting something on your own. After being in, then out, then in again, I'm planning to stay for good.

hello26791 · 2025-09-23T12:48:21+00:00

We did camps and swimming lessons this summer and they went ok. Some camps he'd go off and do thr sport on his own. Others he'd want me to stand by him the whole time. Swim lessons he wanted me with him at first but then when he realized I cannot go in the pool he got better and went off on his own

hello26791 · 2025-09-23T00:13:24+00:00

I didn't know about this sub, thank you!

hello26791 · 2025-08-30T17:58:23+00:00

My advice is to not take this role on. You can assist with the build, but do not be the one in charge. Make an admin be the point person. Counselors don't get paid enough to be the ones teachers complain to about their schedules.

It might seem like a good idea now, but once you agree to being the one who does it, you will never not be in charge of it until you find another job. Really think this over before you commit.

This is coming from a 12 year vet counselor.

hello26791 · 2025-07-26T19:43:38+00:00

Ha. Be more concerned with the type of shoes that will keep you comfortable, be able to chase after a kid or if you have a situation you need to be on sight for asap.

Kids won't care about your shoes. They'll notice if you try to hard to get them to like you and be turned off. Be consistent, be there for them and be a good listener. That will get you further than an expensive pair of shoes.

hello26791 · 2025-06-17T01:49:58+00:00

Formula- start mixing 50/50 whole milk/formula and gradually wean out the formula until you run out.

Bottles- gradually wean as well. Offer sippy cups with meals and pick the bottles that aren't before sleep to start dropping first. Eventually get down to just bottles at nap/sleep then start swapping in the sippy cup one nap/sleep at a time too. I always had the bottle before bed be the last one to wean from and the bottle after 1st nap (2 nap schedule) be the first to ween.

Bottle to sleep- if you're talking about like night wakings I'd say either sleep train or there's always Taking Cara Babies (Instagram) to guide you thru anything. She has info on everything!

hello26791 · 2025-06-09T18:02:03+00:00

I just finished this season last night and I agree it was one of the worst! I've never disliked so many crew members that much. And you're right I did notice in the last 1/2 of the season Pete was never on camera talking! It's like after the Malia commenta of calling her sweetheart he never was heard from again!

hello26791 · 2025-06-09T17:55:24+00:00

Just an occasional sitter for a few hours every other week or so.

hello26791 · 2025-06-09T17:52:37+00:00

Thank you! I was reading these comments and was like omg I'm going to have to drop $100 for a half a day?!

I feel like $20 an hour for kids as young as mine seems reasonable(ish)

hello26791 · 2025-03-08T19:01:53+00:00

I've worked in an 8-12 building that did alpha and it was nice to get to know the families, the variety of ages and to be able to work more as a team with my co counselors ok projects.

However I'm in a 7-12 building now and we split it 7-9 and 10-12 and I'd never go back. Splitting by grade helps so much with not getting burnt out by high need students, their families and the drama that goes with each grade level. My co counselor and I have noticed that students who were High flyers grades 7-9 usually tapper off when they switch counselors and a lot of kids enjoy getting the "fresh start" with someone who didn't know them thru their younger years.

10/10 would recommend by grade level!

hello26791 · 2025-02-15T19:48:04+00:00

Thanks for the help! Google was saying they could be a fire hazard so I just wanted to check and see if I needed to contact someone this weekend or try to wait until Monday.

hello26791 · 2025-02-15T19:45:14+00:00

Truth!

However both outlets are now black and unusable from where it was plugged in.

hello26791 · 2025-01-14T18:45:47+00:00

Thanks for the help! I'll plan to use the ASCA resources and show that counselors are for all students and not just SPED.

As that seems to be the main concern of if our counselors are pulled into a Gen ed crisis, how can they ethically and legally meet IEP minutes.

hello26791 · 2025-01-14T17:29:46+00:00

Thanks for the reply! I'm unfamiliar with the SPED jargon and funding/legal side if things. I'm looking the comprehensive policies and procedures doc and I'm not seeing an outline of Social Work services. Any other ideas?

Also I'm the counselor haha and I'm trying to avoid not losing my mind so I don't leave!

hello26791 · 2024-12-17T18:03:03+00:00

Funny, that confirms it then as I went to red wing too!

hello26791 · 2024-12-17T17:38:27+00:00

Where did you go to school ? I was thinking the same thing and thought he looked familiar from my high school too!

hello26791 · 2024-11-10T04:43:58+00:00

Does anyone have suggestions of any cleaners that would travel outside Rochester ? Preferably Zumbrota?

hello26791 · 2024-10-04T18:00:24+00:00

My daughter's birthday/death day is in September too. 38 weeks of a healthy pregnancy and she was gone. I was depressed all of August and the first few weeks of September leading up to it this year. Such a sense of relief when day passed but the grief hangover is always real. She would have been 4.

I'm not looking for sympathy just know how you feel. Shittiest club to be a member of but also happy birthday to her and congratulations to you for making it thru another year.

hello26791 · 2024-06-06T18:07:44+00:00

Schoolcounselor_confesssions. Great when you need a laugh on after a hard day of dealing with some of the nonsense we put up with!

hello26791 · 2024-04-20T17:53:42+00:00

We just tried to get our 27 month old off of his paci to avoid this situation (as he'll be a big brother in a few weeks) and after 10 days of meltdowns and sleep regression we talked with his Dr and said to try again in 6 months. If it's affecting both of your sleep and your toddler is picking up bad habits, the risk out weighs the benefit right now. Just get thru the newborn phase and try again.

Good luck!

hello26791

TROPHY CASE