Tonight with your 13 to 17 year old

The prompt

“Is there something we do as a family you'd actually want to keep doing with your own kids someday?”

What to listen for

If they name something specific right away, notice what it is: is it about togetherness, about laughing, about a particular ritual? That tells you what feels like "home" to them, and it usually means they feel like they genuinely belong to this family, not just live in it.

If they add a twist, "I'd do it but change this part", that's healthy, not critical. It means they're already picturing themselves as their own person someday, building on what you gave them rather than just repeating it.

If they shrug or say "I don't know," don't push. Sometimes traditions feel like given, not chosen, and that's fine too, you can circle back another night with something more specific, like a holiday or a meal.

What this tells you

Their answer shows you what parts of family life feel worth carrying forward, which is a quiet sign of where they feel most rooted and secure.