Help arriving at Hersey for parents of teens

Hersey High School nurse Martha Messer and Buffalo Grove High School outreach counselor Bob Leece make a powerful combination - when talking about teens, that is.

Together, they bring a passion for the parenting of teens, born out of their own work in caring and counseling students, as well as from raising their own children. Messer herself is the mother of five.

Next week, they'll bring back their popular course, "Active Parenting of Teens," which takes place from 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays in the Hersey High School library, 1900 E. Thomas St., Arlington Heights.

The six-week course aims to enhance communication between parents and teens and enable them to strengthen family relationships.

"A lot of times parents think that when their kids get to high school, that they should take a step back," says Leece, a longtime Hersey counselor in his first year at Buffalo Grove. "But this is a critical time to stay active in their lives, and be very careful and observant."

During the course, they'll address such issues as teenage sex, alcohol and substance abuse, cliques, negative peer pressure, conflict management and violence.

There is a $20 fee per person or family, which covers the cost of a parent's guide.

Leece adds that he and Messer give parents the tools they need - including actual responses and buzz words - to diminish power struggles, improve communication and deal with the significant issues their teens face.

Not surprisingly, the class is drawing more interest. Just last summer, an added session drew 60 parents, while later the pair has also been asked to host a mini-version for members of the First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights later this month.

Each session, they say, draws a diverse group of parents, including those already struggling with issues with their teens as well as junior high school parents and those who want to stay a step ahead of their children.

The interactive evenings include a lecture, video and question-and-answer session, all packed in two hours.

The underlying theme, Messer says, is character building, developing teens with courage and self-confidence, which can lead to making better choices.

"No one has complete control over another human being," Messer says, "but we have a powerful amount of influence, and with that, we can sometimes make the difference."

To register, contact Paula Volpe at (847) 718-4947 or paula.volpe@d214.org.