Tuesday, January 22 marks the start of National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week – an excellent opportunity to start–or continue–the conversation about underage drinking with your kids and students.

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.