Tonight with your 13 to 17 year old

The prompt

“Do you remember a time someone in the family comforted you when you were really little? What do you remember about it?”

What to listen for

A warm, specific memory, even a small one, like being held during a thunderstorm or someone staying close when they were sick, shows they carry a felt sense of having been safe and cared for, which becomes the foundation for feeling secure now.

If the memory involves you specifically, let it land quietly; it's a reminder that the small, unremarkable moments of comfort are the ones that stick.

If they can't recall a specific memory, that's normal for early childhood, you can offer to tell them a story you remember instead, which can be just as connecting.

What this tells you

What comfort memory surfaces shows how early and how deeply they came to feel safe and cared for within this family.