Hey y’all! This one is for both of you, so go ahead and put it on speaker. The back door opens. A backpack hits the floorboard. The seat belt clicks. “How was your day?” “Fine.” And that’s the whole conversation. Here’s the thing, mama: “how was your day” may be the worst question to ask your daughter. Not because you’re a bad mom. Because it’s easy, it’s safe, and a safe question gets you a safe answer. And doll, you’re in this one too, because a lot of the time “fine” is just what’s left after a long day, before you’ve had a minute to sort any of it. If you’ve been looking for better questions to ask your teenage daughter, this episode is practical and ready to use at your next pickup: four questions that can’t be answered with a yes, a no, or a grunt, a few minutes of settling before you ask, and what to do when she actually answers. Because a less expected question means being ready to listen. What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why “how was your day” is the easy, safe question, and why that’s the whole problem
• Four questions that can’t be answered with a yes, a no, or a grunt
  • Tell me something that made you laugh today.
  • Tell me about something you tried today, big or small, even if it didn’t go great.
  • What’s one thing you learned today that you think I don’t know?
  • What was something kind someone said to you, or something kind you said to someone else?
• Why “nothing in particular, it was a normal day” is an answer worth celebrating
• When to ask: after she’s had a few minutes to settle, but before you’re pulling into the driveway
• What “process and support” really means: opening a door and listening, with no advice unless she asks
• Doll, why you don’t have to spill your guts to tell your mama about your day

Your one step this week: Mom, pick one of the four questions and ask it at your next pickup. Doll, if you need a few minutes to settle, say so, then answer whichever question you get, in your own words. Friday’s episode is yours, doll: how easy it is to tell God the polite version of what’s going on, and what changes when you tell Him the real one. xo, Kristen 🎧 Hit follow so the next one shows up in your feed, and send this one to a friend who’s tired of hearing “fine.” WANNA GO DEEPER, BABY SIS? Step 1: Grab the free PEACE Playbook, your first tool for the anxious moment: anxiouschristianteen.com/peace Step 2: Not sure where to start? Take the quiz, What Type of Anxious Teen Girl Are You: anxiouschristianteen.com/quiz Step 3: Come sit with other girls doing this work in the free community: anxiouschristianteen.com/community Step 4: Ready for more support? Learn about coaching: anxiouschristianteen.com/coaching