Tonight with your 13 to 17 year old
The prompt
“What kind of work do you picture yourself doing that would actually feel meaningful, not just paying the bills?”
What to listen for
If they describe helping people, making things, or solving problems, they're telling you what kind of contribution would make them feel like their life mattered, that vision deserves to be taken seriously, even if it's vague or unconventional.
If they hedge with "I don't know if this is realistic," reassure them that meaning matters more right now than a business plan, they need permission to dream without being immediately steered toward practicality.
If they say they haven't thought about meaning, just money or status, that's worth noting without judgment, priorities shift, and this is just one snapshot.
What this tells you
What kind of work feels meaningful to them shows you what they hope their life will add up to.