The way I see it, we’ve got two choices: bury our heads in the sand or face the challenges confronting our children almost daily in this age of technology and socialization. I chose to attend, along with other parents and caregivers, the Middle School of the Kennebunks’ “Middle School Experience” on Tuesday, Jan. 28.

The evening began with a very thought-provoking and informed presentation by William Paterson, project director for Substance Abuse Prevention at Coastal Healthy Communities Coalition, and a member of the faculty of the University of New England.

Paterson is a co-author of the award-winning video “Point of No Return” and executive producer of CHCC’s “A Parent’s Guide to Social Networking.” In 45 minutes, he touched on everything from bullying to social networking, brain development, alcohol and drug use in middle schools, and even sharing with us that he has raised eight children and still doesn’t know all the answers.

This presentation was followed by four break-out sessions that were chosen by each attendee: Adolescent Brain Development, with Ward Willis, MSK guidance counselor; Anxiety in Middle School students, facilitated by Greg Hesse-Stromberg, MSK social worker; Social Networking and Cyberbullying, with Meghan McDonald, computer technology instructor at MSK, and Healthy Relationships, co-facilitated by Diane Binger, guidance counselor at MSK, Michelle Cote, a teacher from the Leadership school Camp Kieve and Caitlyn Anderson, a freshman from Kennebunk High School.

Each session allowed participants to receive and share information about a particular topic and discuss ways in which we can help our children navigate the difficult waters of the middle school years. Brochures were available on many of the subjects discussed, along with links to pertinent websites.

One take-away highlight from the evening for me was to recognize that we are going through many of the same challenges together. The middle school years, ages roughly 11-14, introduce new stressors both academically and socially; it is often a time when peer pressure rears its ugly head in the form of bullying, drug and alcohol experimentation, and emotional stresses due to the influx of hormones as these students struggle to find their own voice and independence.

It can be a time of low self-esteem and self-consciousness that, gone unnoticed, could lead to mental instability. Add to all of that, the frontal cortex of their brains, the part that makes rational, thoughtful decisions and controls impulses, is just beginning to be formed.

Yes, it does sound daunting. However, being aware and informed of all these challenges our middle-schoolers face is essential to helping them transition through these years. As Ward Willis puts it, “make boundaries in a controlled tone,” and don’t forget to tell them, “I love you enough (care enough) that I am going to say no.”

It was a great evening of information gathering and sharing, and I look forward to the second event scheduled for later in the spring.

Cathy Zub, Kennebunk