Tonight with your 13 to 17 year old

The prompt

“Was there a moment recently you felt proud of yourself, even if literally no one else noticed?”

What to listen for

If they share something small and private, sticking with something hard, staying calm, doing the right thing quietly, that tells you they're building an internal sense of pride that doesn't depend on applause, which is a genuinely healthy sign.

If they seem almost shy sharing it, that's normal; quiet pride can feel vulnerable to say out loud. Let your reaction be warm but not overblown, so it stays their private win, not a performance for you.

If they say nothing comes to mind, gently note that everyone has these moments even when they're hard to spot, you might offer something you noticed about them this week instead, without turning it into a lecture.

What this tells you

This shows you where their sense of self-worth is coming from right now, and whether it's rooted in something durable that doesn't need an audience.