Dominique, 40, Stay-at-Home Mom | Templeton, CA

“I think kids are smarter than we give them credit for, and everything’s an opportunity to think critically about something.

The way we evaluate things is kind of antiquated … There are all these taboo things, but then if you actually ask yourself why is this taboo, [you] can’t really explain [it]. At some point, you become an adult, and you have to figure stuff out for yourself.

I guess in a way I’m really honest …. I’m weird, because there are some things I’m very neurotic about, and in other ways I don’t care about what other people think of me. I think I’m pretty honest with people even who I don't know- like, ‘Ugh, my kids are annoying me so much today.’ I don’t think that’s uncommon, because that’s just who I am, but by people’s reactions, I’m like, oh, I guess, people don’t usually talk like that, because I can tell people are like, surprised, or it’s refreshing to people, it kind of disarms them, like we don’t have to play this game that everyone has it together. I think more … people match that, if I am just who I am. But I don’t know if people would feel comfortable if I wasn’t as honest as I am.

My advice? Follow your gut and listen to your kids.”