Caledonia Argus

Group offers support for parents of adolescents

Posted: 11/13/02

by Jane Palen
Managing editor

Itís hard to judge whether adolescence is harder on parents or children. Itís a time when children start shutting parents out of their lives, leaving mom and dad feeling out of the loop.

A new group being formed for parents of adolescents is designed to bring parents back into the loop-or at least to form their own loop to lend support and identify resources that will assist them in getting through their childís middle school years.

Beth Dolder-Zieke is one of the parents involved in organizing the group, and emphasizes that this group will be different in that it will not have regular meetings as its main focus. Instead, interested parents will keep in touch via e-mail and phone, and call meetings occasionally.

Dolder-Zieke said that there is a wealth of research that underscores the importance of parental involvement in the academic and social development of children. The new group, called the Caledonia Middle School Parents Group, picks up where the elementary PACE (Parents as Allies in Childrenís Education) leaves off. A PACE group was attempted in the high school, but didnít take hold. Dolder-Zieke hopes that having the middle school group will lead to a group for high school parents as well.

Gail McCormick is the faculty liaison, and Lisa Buley, guidance counselor, will also be lending her expertise. Buley will speak on parenting adolescents at a ìGetting to Know Youî night for parents and teachers scheduled for Thursday, November 14 from 6:30-8 p.m. in the CMHS media center.

McCormick commented that ìthe key is communication. We know how important that is in the elementary school, and we want to continue that into the middle school.î

Liz Wanschura is a parent who agrees that communication is an important issue, especially once a student enters middle school and begins to want more privacy.

She said she wants to know more about what is going on in the curriculum and in the studentsí classes. The middle school is a whole different system which is not ìparent-friendlyî in the sense that an elementary school is. A parent canít simply walk into a classroom and observe.

Children of middle school age are less likely to share than their elementary school counterparts, so parents need to communicate with teachers to find out what is happening in school.

The issues that the group hopes to address during the year are what is normal behavior; development, educational issues, bullying and harassment, drugs and social pressures.

ìIf we are going to raise this generation of children, it has to be a partnership,î said Dolder-Zieke.

Another reason for the group is simply for parents to get to know the parents of their childrenís friends and learn more about adolescence.

The group will probably meet again some time after Christmas, and will keep in touch via phone and e-mail.

ìWeíre starting small. If we have interest and people, we can do more,î said Dolder-Zieke.

Interested parents can call Dolder-Zieke at 724-2480, or Wanschura at 724-5645.

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