Reese Witherspoon: I talk to my kids about Rihanna, Chris Brown incident By Alexis L. Loinaz, E! Online Rihanna's recent musical collab with Chris Brown has spurred criticism about whether the Barbadian songbird has learned anything from her notorious 2009 assault. But one mother is making sure her kids learn an important lesson from it: Reese Witherspoon. More from E: Chris Brown and Rihanna Reuniting on 'American Idol'? The "This Means War" actress appeared at the recent World Conference of Women's Shelters in Washington, D.C., as part of her partnership with the Avon Foundation to raise awareness about domestic violence. There, she openly discussed how she actively talks to her two children, Ava, 12, and Deacon, 8, about domestic abuse, and that Rihanna's infamous incident is part of that conversation. "We talk about domestic violence and what that means," Witherspoon, 35, told People. Although the concept is somewhat foreign to them, they're starting to understand that this happens to families in our country and all throughout the world. More from E: The-Dream on Rihanna and Chris Brown's polarizing remix collab: 'It was Rih's idea' She also doesn't shelter them from the realities of Brown's assault on Rihanna. My daughter knows what happened. My son knows as well," she continued. We talk about what is abuse. I think it's important to talk to our daughters and our sons in order to educate them at an early age about what's appropriate and what is absolutely not acceptable. Judging from mom's essential, open and mature communication, Ava and Deacon are clearly getting the right message in the best possible way. Photos from E: Rihanna and Chris Brown -- a look back More in TODAY entertainment: