Tonight with your 13 to 17 year old
The prompt
“When's the last time gratitude just hit you out of nowhere, for no big reason?”
What to listen for
If a small, specific moment comes to mind easily, they're noticing the good in ordinary life, which is a strong sign of overall contentment and being present rather than always looking ahead.
If they can't think of anything, that's worth noting gently rather than pushing, it might mean they're currently too stressed or distracted to notice small good things, which is useful to know.
If what they name involves you or the family, let that land quietly rather than making a big deal of it, so it doesn't feel performative next time.
What this tells you
Whether gratitude comes easily to mind shows you how much space they currently have to notice good things instead of just getting through the day.