Tonight with your 13 to 17 year old
The prompt
“If success had nothing to do with money, what would it look like for you?”
What to listen for
If they describe things like good relationships, doing meaningful work, or feeling proud of themselves, they're defining a version of a good life that's truly their own, not one borrowed from outside pressure.
If they struggle to separate success from money or status, that's worth noticing without judgment, it may just reflect what they've absorbed from the world around them, not a fixed belief.
A playful answer like "being able to sleep in" still counts, humor is often a genuine glimpse at what peace means to them.
What this tells you
Their version of success without money attached shows what they actually value deep down, separate from what they think they're supposed to want.