You Can't Take Them Home...

This morning, after school had already begun for the day, our principal saw a little boy and his sister trying to throw a backpack in a tree. The students were late so she went outside
to bring them inside.


The children wanted to leave the backpack outside until after school. She told them they needed to bring it with them. She was quite surprised to find a kitten inside the backpack.

The principal happened to tell my co-school counselor about the kitten. Then my co-school counselor came to find me so she could show me what the principal had in her office.

Saying that I am a cat person would probably be an understatement.

The principal had the kitten in a box in her office. It was adorable, as you can see. It was, however, dirty and in need of food and water.


I took the kitten, box and all to my school counseling office. Is it wrong that I have secretly always wanted to have a cat in my office at school?! I even made a joke to the principal that it could be a therapy cat, but she wasn't going
for it. ;)


I wrestled with what to do. Part of me really wanted to take the kitten home, but the kitten needed medical care before I was willing to take it home to be with my cats.


I finally decided to take the kitten to the humane society. I felt bad but, but my gut was telling me it was the right thing to do. I wanted the kitten to have a good life and not be on the streets. I thought about my own cats at home and how much joy they bring me. I adopted them both from the humane society and I wanted to provide this kitten the same opportunity.


So, at the end of the day I loaded the kitten up in my car and drove to the humane society. When I stepped in the door, I was overcome with sadness... not only about the kitten I was bringing, but about so much more.


As a school counselor, some days are sad and unexpected in ways you could not imagine. Sometimes things hit you and you don't even know why you are sad, but you are just sad about the situation. Sometimes something happens that is just the icing on the cake. Sometimes something happens that makes you see things in a new light.


Sometimes you end up doing the thing that makes you feel sad, but you know it is the right thing.


Danielle is a K-12 Certified School Counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor, and blogger at School Counselor Blog, a place where school counselors share innovative ideas, creative lesson plans, and quality resources. Connect with Danielle via email, follow her on twitter, add her on LinkedIn or Google+, and become a fan of the School Counselor Blog Facebook Page.