Tonight with your 13 to 17 year old

The prompt

“Have you ever had to set a boundary with a friend for the first time, like really tell them something?”

What to listen for

If they describe doing it, notice how it went and how they felt afterward, proud, relieved, guilty. That tells you how equipped they feel to protect their own needs in friendships, which is a skill that will only get more important with time.

If it went badly or they're still unsure it was the right call, resist rushing to reassure or fix; ask what they wish had gone differently, and let them arrive at their own insight.

If they've never had to do this, that's useful context too, it might mean their friendships haven't required it yet, or that boundary-setting still feels too scary to attempt.

What this tells you

This shows you how much they trust their own right to say no or ask for space, even with people they care about.