In some families, politeness is the rule. They’ll smile sweetly, tell you your casserole is “just delicious,” and gush that your new haircut makes you look so young. In our family? Not so much. We don’t do polite lies—we do truthful answers. Sometimes brutally so.

If I ask my sister, “Does this outfit look good on me?” I know I’m not getting a sugar-coated reply. If it makes me look like I’ve gained ten pounds, she’ll tell me. If my hairstyle is doing me no favors, she’ll announce it. And honestly, I’d rather hear her truthful opinion than a polite fib.