Share Your Story

Let us know how PEN has impacted you, or read a few examples below about how we help families navigate this crazy world.

Our children are not projects to be fixed, they are people who need love, boundaries, guidance, and exposure to positive experiences and role models.

We know that parents are often the most influential adult in a child’s life. But without access to education, resources, and support, they are left to figure things out on their own. You don’t want parents to feel lost, alone, afraid, guilty, powerless, and stressed out. You want them to feel hopeful, confident, accepted, supported, important and empowered to embrace whatever challenges they face. After all, that is what their children will learn from their example. Our youth deserve to grow up in a community that supports their most important ally – their parents.

Connor

Connor is a first grade boy living with his two parents and his 3rd grade brother. Connor was adopted because their first pregnancy was too risky. Connor’s parents have learned that parenting is quite a bit harder then they expected! They give to PEN because, like many parents, they are afraid of what’s going to happen during the daunting teenage years! They believe it is never too early to learn what to expect as their children grow. Sometimes their friends say things like, “We’ll deal with that when the time comes.” or “They are too young for us to worry about that stuff.” But Connor’s parents have learned that the way they parent Connor now will impact future interactions. They want to be prepared and have a solid foundation to build from when the stakes are higher.

Ashley

Ashley is mortified because someone posted an inappropriate picture on Facebook and said it was her. It wasn’t, but within a day it seemed the whole middle school saw it! By the next day, pictures of other girls had been posted. Ashley’s parents give to PEN because the parent leader (PEN PAL) at that school took action and created a school wide response to address cyberbullying. By working with PEN leadership, administrative staff and counselors, they organized a school assembly and informational parent night. The youth learned the impact of cyberbullying on the victims and the importance of internet safety. The parents learned how to talk to, and protect their children. Without an intervention, incidents like this can have a negative effect on youth for years to come.

Brian

Brian just turned 16 and got caught using marijuana at school. Later his parents learned that he was also using other drugs. They were shocked, and scared that he would hurt himself or become addicted. They give to PEN because they thought they were doing everything right! They realized that even if they did their best, they would need help through the hard times. Over a cup of coffee, they learned about trusted resources, parents who shared similar experiences, and upcoming events around substance use. They also learned they didn’t need to be embarrassed or alone, but they did need to Step Up! They got the support they needed for themselves and the help they needed for Brian. In the end, this experience made their family closer and taught Brian that he had the strength to chose for himself.

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