Terry and Heather Dubrow are speaking candidly about one of modern parenting’s most anxiety-inducing conversations: talking to your children about sexuality.
The couple, whose family includes children with a diversity of identities and experiences, say the discussion is more manageable than most parents fear, and that getting it perfectly right matters far less than simply showing up for it.
Terry, a plastic surgeon and reality TV personality, has offered a straightforward message to parents who feel overwhelmed by the topic. According to E! Online, Terry told parents to approach kids’ sexuality conversations without the pressure of clinical perfection, quoting him as saying, “Act like there are cameras around and that you’re going to be held accountable for the way you act,” he recommended. “That immediately removes all of your preconceived douchiness you might have.”
Why The Dubrows Are Talking About This
Terry and Heather have four children together, and the couple has spoken publicly about the range of identities and experiences within their household. That personal context gives their parenting advice a grounded authenticity that resonates with families navigating similar conversations.
The couple has used their podcast, “Between Us,” as a platform for exactly this kind of candid discussion. The show, which features Terry and Heather talking through everything from marriage and career to family dynamics, has become a space where the two address topics that many couples keep private.
It is the same platform where Heather recently opened up about the toll of filming The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 20, admitting she was so exhausted after the finale party that she stayed in bed until 2 PM the following day, with Terry telling her, as reported by Reality Tea, “I’ve never seen you get blown out by a season the way you got blown out this season.”
What Parents Can Take Away From Their Approach
The core of the Dubrows’ message is reassurance. Many parents delay or avoid conversations about sexuality because they worry about saying the wrong thing, using the wrong words, or inadvertently sending a harmful message.
Terry’s framing, drawing on his background as a physician, essentially argues that the bar is not perfection. Showing up, staying curious, and keeping the lines of communication open matters far more than delivering a flawless talk.
Child development experts broadly agree with this philosophy. Research consistently shows that children who feel comfortable discussing identity and sexuality with their parents report better mental health outcomes, stronger self-esteem, and a greater sense of family connection.
The conversation does not need to happen in one formal sit-down; many families find that smaller, ongoing check-ins are more effective and less intimidating for both parents and children.
For families with LGBTQ+ children specifically, parental acceptance is one of the most significant protective factors against depression and anxiety.
That makes the Dubrows’ willingness to speak publicly about their own family’s experience particularly meaningful, since it normalizes the conversation for parents who might otherwise feel isolated or uncertain about where to begin.
Starting The Conversation At Home
If the Dubrows’ approach resonates with you, here are a few practical ways to bring that same openness into your own household:
- Start early and keep it age-appropriate. You do not need to cover everything at once. Simple, honest answers to children’s questions build a foundation of trust over time.
- Use everyday moments as entry points. A character in a TV show, a news story, or a question a child brings home from school can all open the door naturally.
- Let your child lead. Following their curiosity rather than delivering a prepared lecture keeps the conversation feeling safe rather than formal.
- Normalize the topic. When sexuality and identity are treated as ordinary parts of human experience in your home, children are more likely to come to you when they have questions or something to share.
- Repair when you stumble. No parent gets every conversation right. Circling back after an awkward exchange, acknowledging it, and trying again models resilience and honesty for your kids.
It’s A Hard Conversation, But Worth Having
What stands out about the Dubrows’ public discussion is not that they have all the answers, but that they are willing to admit the conversation is hard and have it anyway.
In a media landscape where celebrity parenting advice can feel performative or out of touch, their acknowledgment that these talks require effort, not expertise, is genuinely useful. For parents of LGBTQ+ children especially, seeing a high-profile family treat this as a normal part of raising kids, rather than a crisis to manage, sends a message worth amplifying.
As more families navigate questions of identity and sexuality with their children at younger ages, the Dubrows’ candid approach is a reminder that the goal is not a perfect conversation. It is an ongoing one.
