Tonight with your 13 to 17 year old

The prompt

“Does being fully yourself ever cost you something, like with certain people or in certain places?”

What to listen for

If they can name a real cost, losing a friend, standing out awkwardly, being teased, they're aware of the tension between authenticity and belonging, and are actively deciding it's still worth it, which is a sign of real self-respect.

If they say it doesn't cost them anything, that could mean real confidence, or it could mean they're only showing a curated version of themselves in most places, either is worth gently noticing over time.

If frustration comes through, let them vent without trying to solve it immediately, being heard matters more here than being fixed.

What this tells you

What being themselves costs them shows you how much they currently have to trade belonging for authenticity, or vice versa.