Free event Tuesday so parents can learn about their teens’ lives

The first of three free events this school year where local teens explain what they and their peers would like to share with their parents will be held on Tuesday evening.

The “What I Wish My Parents Knew...” community-based conversation provides parents in Poway Unified School District with insights into the stresses and issues their middle and high school students are experiencing.

A mix of school officials, experts and Poway Unified students will participate in panel discussions on a variety of topics. They include adjusting to high school, communicating with your teen, handling academic pressure, managing social media, establishing “guardrails” (aka parameters), drugs and alcohol, depression and suicide plus balancing commitments.

Since time restraints only allow parents to attend two of the workshop sessions per event, they often are repeat attendees. Daryl Nuss, one of the series’ founders, said tentative plans are to offer the event again in January and May. Dates and details will be announced later.

The 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25 event will be held at Westview High School, 13500 Camino Del Sur in Torrey Highlands. To attend, register at WhatIWishMyParentsKnew.com.

The “community conversation” series was founded in 2012 following the drugs- and alcohol-related deaths of several area teenagers. Nuss, CEO of the National Network of Youth Ministries and a long-time Poway resident, met with then-Poway High Principal Scott Fisher to see what could be done in response, according to the event’s website. Soon other community members became involved and a survey was conducted by local faith communities and Poway Unified high schools to learn from teenagers about the issues they were facing.

The survey showed teens were experiencing stress in many ways, including academic pressure, depression, self-harm, substance abuse and social media. The responses turned into founding the “What I Wish My Parents Knew: Empowering Parents to Support 21st Century Teens” series of community conversations.

Email: rbnews@pomeradonews.com