Tonight with your 13 to 17 year old
The prompt
“What do you think our family actually gets right that other families maybe don't?”
What to listen for
Listen for pride in their voice, if they name something warmly, it's a sign they feel genuinely lucky to belong here, which is a quiet but powerful form of security. Notice whether they mention something about how you treat each other, humor, or just being allowed to be who they are.
If they compare you to a friend's family in a specific way, that's useful, it tells you what they've been noticing and measuring, even if they never said so before.
If they say "I don't know" or seem unsure, don't take it personally, it might just mean they've never had to put it into words, not that nothing comes to mind.
What this tells you
Whatever they name here reveals what makes them feel like this family is a safe, good place to belong, and what to keep protecting as they get older.