What I’ve figured out this year is that the balance between have to and want to, between freedom and responsibility, starts with trust. I earned the right to be responsible for my precious, messy, ridiculous family because I showed up every day ready to do the work required to take care of them. Now my kids get the chance to step up and do more for themselves, and as they do that, I will step back. It’s not easy to do, and I know mistakes will happen. Responsibility is a gift to my kids because it means I have to trust and let go, having faith that things will be OK because my kids have good sense and kind hearts.

Responsibility comes is so many shapes and sizes, and it is what Ask, Listen, Learn is built upon. Throughout the year, the Ask, Listen, Learn program strives to give you—educators and parents—the information you need to encourage kids to say YES to a healthy lifestyle and NO to underage drinking.