On Jobs

A 9-year-old's description of her picture, entitled, "Mrs. Blocksma Is The Best Counselor Ever!"

"The butterfly is because you are pretty, the palm tree is because one time you told us about you going on vacation, and the monster is because you are strong and tough."

I have spent many days working 9, 10, 11 hours, eating my lunch while scoring an IQ test or checking emails, sitting through tense and uncomfortable meetings, explaining the difference between a school counselor and a school psychologist, etc. But when I consider my job, I am first of all thankful to simply have a job and a means to survive, and secondly thankful that the stressful stuff is sometimes balanced out by hugs and high fives, parties with funfetti cookies and pink party hats, and homemade pictures like the one that now hangs on the bulletin board above my desk.

Oh yeah, and summer vacation ain't bad either...