Parenting is hard. There are no two ways about it. Whether you have one child or five, whether your children are still toddlers, well into adolescence, or young adults, the responsibilities and challenges (and satisfactions and joys) may change, but they never disappear.

All of us can use a little help navigating the parenting seas. Some of us turn to comrades in arms; some seek information from the Internet or books. Most of us recognize the value of others’ experiences and perceptions. We quickly learn to appreciate real expertise when we see and hear it.

On Thursday evening, Nov. 21, we have the opportunity to listen to one of the best in the field of child rearing.

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Every weekday morning usually finds me with coffee, journal and NPR in our living room. I have come to look forward to the days when Cheryl Erwin, licensed family therapist, shares her wisdom about parenting children of all ages.

I like the solid, consistent advice she dispenses. I like her sense of self and sense of humor. I like that she is a parent and not afraid to share some of her own experiences. I like that Cheryl is clear about the roles parents should assume and the boundaries they should not cross. She makes good sense.

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Erwin is Lake Tahoe School’s first featured speaker in this year’s Parent Speaker Series. This series is open to LTS parents and the public, at no charge. The evening will begin promptly at 6 p.m. and will finish by 8. Cheryl will talk about the art of building effective relationships, then be available for a question and answer session.

Cheryl is the author and co-author of several books, including “Positive Discipline for Preschoolers,” “Positive Discipline for Single Parents,” and “The Everything Parent’s Guide to Raising Boys.”

What she does best is listen to parents and their questions and respond with a mixture of research and experience.

More than just talking about how children of various ages present themselves, she provides effective strategies that reach across the years.

Listening to Cheryl, you feel confident that she has personal knowledge of what it is to be a parent.

She understands and acknowledges the frustrations and challenges we all face and provides us with tools to create and maintain healthy relationships with our children.

Please join us for what will undoubtedly be an unforgettable evening.

Ruth Glass is headmaster at Lake Tahoe School. She can be reached for comment through her blog at http://www.laketahoeschool.org.