Tonight with your 13 to 17 year old

The prompt

“Is there a family recipe or meal that's tied to a really specific memory for you?”

What to listen for

A warm, detailed answer here shows food as an anchor for belonging in this family, these sensory memories tend to run deep, and just retelling them helps reinforce that sense of continuity and home. Let them describe it in full, even the small details.

If the memory involves someone who's no longer around, be gentle and let them lead on how much emotion to bring into it, this can be tender territory.

If nothing comes to mind immediately, that's fine, you could mention one yourself to prime the memory, without turning it into your own story instead of theirs.

What this tells you

This memory shows you what belonging tastes like to them, quite literally, and how strongly food and family are linked in their sense of home.