Counselor's Corner

More About Feelings

I really liked what you students had to say about feelings.  It looks like many of you worry just like I used to!  I liked what Gianna said when she said that it helped to talk to her friend.  Talking about unpleasant feelings is the best way to feel better.  I guess when you share them, then it's kind of like letting someone help you carry them ~ they are not so heavy!

Another feeling that many of you have is anger.  In 4th grade, we have been talking about ways to deal with anger.  We have talked about deep breathing, counting backwards slowly, thinking nice thoughts, and doing some appropriate self-talk.  In 5th grade, we have been talking about giving "I Messages."  I Messages are when you tell someone how you are feeling by saying for example, "John, I felt mad when  you borrowed my bicycle and return it with a flat tire, because now I have to fix it before I can ride it.  I think you should return things in the same condition they were in when you borrowed them."

With an I Message, you say:

1. The person's name
2. How you feel
3. Why
4. What you want to happen.

It's not magic ~ it doesn't make the problem go completely away, but you sure feel better because you are in control and you have let the person know just how you feel.

Do any of you have any other ways that you handle anger?  Remember, they have to be appropriate ~ you can't hurt people and you can't hurt things in dealing with anger.

Feelings

Wow, Students!  Did you ever inspire me!!  Thanks so much for all your wonderful messages.  You are right ~ blogging is really fun and not nearly so scary as I thought!

This month in our classes we have been discussing feelings.  I've been thinking a lot about this subject and am wondering if you have any feelings that cause you problems.  When I was a child, I used to worry a lot.  That feeling brought me a lot of sadness.  I used to worry that I might get really sick or that my parents would get a divorce.  I also used to worry a lot about our country and war.  My mother used to tell me that most of the time the things you worry about never come  true.  Guess what?  She was right!!!  If I had spent more time doing fun things and less time worrying that something bad was going to happen, I would have been happier. 

Do you have feelings that get in your way of being happy?

Responsibility of Blogging

OKay, Students...They tell me you will be reading my blogs and that scares me just a little. You may wonder why blogging is scarry.to me...Well, when I know that what I write goes out to anyone who wants to read it, it makes me very aware of the responsibility of good writing. I want to always be sure to use correct spelling (sometimes very hard for me :-) and grammar. I also want to be sure to choose topics that will be of interest to others, and I feel a great responsibility in keeping up with the fun task of blogging. I wonder, do any of you have these same fears?