“My child won’t tell me anything about their day!” It’s a common concern I hear from parents in my psychotherapy office. They’re hoping to gain a glimpse into their child’s world. But asking “How was school today?” usually leads to a one-word answer.

As a therapist and the author of “13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don’t Do,” I encourage parents to ask questions that are thoughtful and spark meaningful conversations. When kids reflect on their experiences, they practice skills like emotional awareness, problem-solving, and empathy, and develop a growth mindset.

Here are seven questions that lead to productive conversations while also helping kids grow mentally stronger:

This question encourages kids to scan their brains for positives. For children who dislike school or tend to focus on what went wrong, answering this question helps them build optimism and gratitude — which are both protective factors for mental health.

Frame the question with your own experience, saying, “The best part of my day was going for a walk during my lunch break. What about you?” Your child might share a highlight, like, “I played kickball at recess.”

This one normalizes errors and celebrates healthy risk-taking. Talking openly about mistakes reduces shame and helps kids see them as opportunities for growth.

Ask with a tone of curiosity, not judgment: “Did anything happen today that you’d do differently next time?” This might prompt them to say, “I forgot my library book so I’m going to pack it tonight so I don’t forget.”

It works because it turns their attention to others and cultivates empathy. You will also gain insight into your child’s relationships and what they value.

Make the question more specific by asking, for example, “Did you see anyone try really hard at something today?” Your child may talk about a friend who was brave or might give themselves a pat on the back and say, “My friend forgot her snack so I shared mine.”

This question helps kids identify feelings like frustration and disappointment without dwelling on those experiences. It naturally opens the door to problem-solving and planning.

You can ask in a fun way, such as, “If you had a magic wand to change one thing about today, what would it be?” This can lead to creative ideas, like, “I wish there was more time for my art project so maybe I’ll bring it home to finish it.” 

You can empower kids to engage in prosocial behavior with questions like this. When you ask regularly, kids begin to look for opportunities to be helpful and acts of kindness become second nature.  

Ask about small acts of contribution: “How were you a helper today?” They might remember something simple, like, “I helped the teacher pass out papers.”

It emphasizes curiosity over academic performance. Showing interest in the learning process itself fuels lifelong learning.

Encourage kids to talk about what they learned aside from just their subjects. They may share a fun fact, like, “I learned that my teacher knows how to play the violin.” Show interest and ask follow-up questions to keep the conversation going.

This nudges kids to look outside their comfort zone and encourages them to be courageous. They don’t have to be good at something in order to try something new — it’s a learning experience. 

If your child hesitates to try new things, encourage an experiment by asking, “Is there a club or activity you’re curious about just trying once?” They may be more likely to explore if they know they don’t have to stick with it forever.

Amy Morin is a psychotherapist, clinical social worker and instructor at Northeastern University. She is the author of several books including “13 Things Strong Kids Do: Think Big, Feel Good, Act Brave” and ”13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don’t Do.” Her TEDx talk “The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong” is one of the most viewed talks of all time. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook.

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For weeks now, it seems like every few days another major company announces a layoff impacting hundreds, if not thousands, of its employees.

These big cuts get a lot of attention, but under the surface another problem is brewing: Smaller-scale firings of less than 50 people are now the most common type of layoff throughout the year, making up 51% of WARN Act notices in 2025 compared with just 38% in 2015.

Translation: The “forever layoff” is here, according to Glassdoor’s latest report on 2026 work trends.

These smaller but more regular firings could continue to stoke worker anxiety heading into the next year.

Rolling layoffs could help companies stay out of headlines, researchers note, but “create cultures of anxiety, insecurity and resentment.”

Previous Glassdoor research found that after a layoff, negative sentiments from remaining employees took more than two years to recover, based on their company ratings. Repeated layoffs have double the impact on employee sentiment right after a second round of cuts, with the biggest drops for key talent, managers and new hires.

Another sign of workers’ dissatisfaction: Glassdoor ratings of senior leaders have been slipping since the second half of 2023 and are now well below their pandemic peaks.

Workers in media and communication; management and consulting; and technology saw the biggest drops in confidence in their leadership. Glassdoor researchers point to AI business disruptions, media consolidations and a return to hustle culture ideals in tech as prime reasons for these declines.

Meanwhile, a growing share of users mention words like misalignment, distrust, miscommunication, disconnection and hypocrisy since 2024 in Glassdoor reviews that mention their senior leadership or management.

Outside of the layoff forecast, there’s good news for some: Wage growth is on the upswing for young workers with up to four years’ work experience, giving them more spending power in 2026.

New grads have struggled over the last year to jumpstart their careers given the low hiring environment and businesses adopting AI, which has led many to open fewer entry-level roles. But for those who can secure a role, the pay will be better.

Young workers in some rising cities will see the biggest difference. Provo, Utah; Boise, Idaho; Orlando, Fla.; Charleston, S.C.; and Austin, Texas are among the locations with the highest wage growth since 2020, according to Glassdoor.

“For early career workers considering where to pursue their next career step, these rising cities represent good opportunities to grow your earnings even though they may not offer the highest salaries,” Glassdoor researchers wrote.

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Trust is the foundation of emotional intimacy and long-term connection in romantic relationships.

When you trust your partner, you believe that they will follow through on their commitments. But it’s also shaped by your past experiences and emotional patterns. For example, if you experienced betrayal in a previous relationship, you might find it harder to believe others can be counted on, even when they can.

As a Harvard-trained psychologist specializing in relationships, I’ve seen how trust influences the way couples communicate. Couples who truly trust each other never use eight phrases that quietly cause long-term damage.

Constantly asking for reassurance may be a sign of insecurity. Even if your partner answers “yes,” it might not feel genuine, especially if you had to ask.

If you trust your partner cares about you, share with them that you’re feeling vulnerable and want connection. 

Instead, they say:

• “I’m feeling a little vulnerable. Can I get a hug?”
• “It’s important to me that we express how we feel. How are you feeling about us lately?”

It can be tempting to do a “check-up” when you feel suspicious. But snooping signals a lack of trust. In healthy relationships, privacy is respected. You both have the right to your own space and communication.

Instead, they say:

• “I’m sensing something’s off. Is there something you’re not telling me?”
• “I noticed you got some late-night texts. Everything okay?”

We’re always growing and changing. It’s a part of life. In relationships rooted in trust, change is seen as an opportunity to evolve together over time.

Instead, they say:

• “I didn’t know that about you.”
• “Even after all this time, I’m still learning about you. I love that.”

Commitment is important. But if dysfunction lasts over time, your partner may leave (or vice versa!). You want to trust that your partner will stay because they choose to, not because you’ve guilt-tripped, manipulated, or begged them to do so. 

Instead, they say:

• “I trust that we can get through this tough time.”
• “If you ever feel this relationship isn’t right, it will be hard for me. But I’ll get through it.”

Couples who trust each other are willing to talk about anything, no matter how painful or uncomfortable it might be. They trust that their partner be respectful and stay connected even if they disagree. 

Instead, they say:

• “I know I can tell you anything.”
• “Thank you for loving me, even when it’s hard.”

Couples who trust one another give each other space. This means they don’t need constant check-ins to feel secure. They know that their partner is okay and even thriving when they are physically apart.

Instead, they say:

• “Have fun tonight!”
• “Shoot me a text when you’re heading home.”

Relationships go through highs and lows. Saying “I’m done” in the heat of an argument can cause long-term damage. Couples who trust each other don’t make empty threats, and they know that one tough moment doesn’t mean the relationship is over.

Instead, they say:

• “We’ll figure this out.”
• “I’m not going anywhere. I’ve got your back.” 

Expecting your partner to read your mind isn’t fair. Communication is key to any successful relationship. If you trust your partner, you stay engaged and talk to them respectfully.

Instead, they say:

• “Here’s why I’m upset.”
• “I need a moment to cool off, but I’ll come back when I’m ready to talk.”

Dr. Cortney S. Warren, PhD, is a board-certified psychologist and author of the new book “Letting Go of Your Ex.” She specializes in romantic relationships, addictive behavior, and honesty. She received her clinical training at Harvard Medical School after earning her doctorate in clinical psychology from Texas A&M University. Follow her on Instagram @DrCortneyWarren or Twitter @DrCortneyWarren.

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Jacob Cooper’s Saturdays don’t look like a typical 29-year-old’s.

On a recent one, Cooper was up by 4:15 a.m., out of his Brooklyn apartment by 4:30, and ready to cook at a nearby commercial kitchen by 5. He and his staff prepared hundreds of hand-rolled, bite-sized bagels they’d sell that day across two events in New York City.

Cooper spent his morning selling freshly baked pizza bagels to pop-up shoppers in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, worked at the Queens Night Market until midnight, and finally ended his day at home at 2 a.m.

Despite the 22-hour day, Cooper says he doesn’t regret leaving his former six-figure tech job to start his food business, Pizzabagel.nyc.

Cooper launched the business in January 2025 and as of October has brought in close to $92,000 for the year.

He logs up to 90 hours per week on the job but says it’s a 180 from the burnout he felt before.

“Even though I’m working as hard as I ever have, every customer that comes up to the stand and tells me how great they are, every time they come back wanting more, it helps keep me going,” Cooper says. “I have a lot of fun doing this.”

Cooper didn’t plan to become a pizza bagels pro. His first career was in tech.

He studied computer science at Cornell and in 2017 co-founded an AI company with classmates, becoming the startup’s chief technology officer. Over the next seven years, the team raised money, hired staff and weathered the Covid-19 pandemic.

But by 2023, Cooper was burning out. He and the CEO fought a lot, “and we both kind of said, ‘this is not really working,’” he says. In 2024, Cooper left the company and his $120,000 annual salary without a plan.

After a few months of feeling lost, inspiration struck: Cooper loved Bagel Bites when he was a kid, but as an adult revisited them and felt they could use an upgrade.

Cooper experimented with pizza bagel recipes with the help of Reddit forums, cookbooks and “a million” online videos. He started cooking in his apartment and even bought extra refrigerators so he and his roommate had enough space. Cooper estimates he made some 40,000 bagels before his recipe became consistent.

Cooper had sold a portion of his equity back to the AI company for $250,000, pocketing about half of that after taxes to pay his rent, insurance and other basic expenses. He also funneled that money into Pizzabagel.nyc. “That is what allowed me to take a few months off, start this business, buy the equipment, buy the minivan, test things out, [and] lose money on it,” Cooper says.

Right now, Pizzabagel.nyc makes money in three ways: pop-ups, catering and farmers markets.

It offers six pizza bagel options, including cheese, pepperoni, spicy vodka, buffalo dip, ricotta and French onion. Bagel costs vary, but at the Queens Night Market are sold two for $5.

In February, its first month in business, the company made around $3,000 in sales. Cooper bought a car in May and scaled his events way up. The business started to break even over the summer and jumped to roughly $10,000 in sales for July. By September, the business hit a milestone of bringing in $20,000.

It was enough to cover the business’s expenses for the month. Cooper’s operating costs fluctuate, but for September totaled $15,000 including payroll for one full-time employee and a small crew of part-timers, his kitchen rental, food costs, event fees and other costs.

Cooper reinvested the $5,000 profit back into the company.

Cooper currently doesn’t take a salary and plans to pour any profits back into the company. He estimates he has three years’ worth of basic living expenses saved to keep this up. He’s also invested $50,000 of his own money into the business.

“At the end of the day, I know that if this business doesn’t work out, I can go get another tech job or I can do something else,” Cooper says. “I’m probably not going to end up on my parents’ couch. Probably.”

Prior to opening his food business, Cooper says he’d never set foot in a commercial kitchen, cooked professionally or worked a restaurant service job. He worried about his lack of experience in the field.

Cooper took the mistakes he learned as a tech leader to set himself up better in the food world.

“My biggest regret is that I was just young and inexperienced and didn’t know what I was doing,” Cooper says about his CTO days. “I was too stubborn to look for help a lot of the time. Now I know to look for help. I know that I’m a newcomer to the food industry.”

Another big challenge is out of his control: the weather.

For example, on a recent rainy Saturday, the business sold $1,000 worth of food at the Queens Night Market compared to the $2,000 it moves on a good day.

“You’re basically just praying it’s nice weather so people come out and buy stuff,” Cooper says.

Cooper says he originally gave himself six months to see if Pizzabagel.nyc had momentum; by the summer, he decided to keep at it and additionally launched Littlebagel.nyc, a sister pop-up operation that specializes in mini-bagels with fun offerings like chili crisp spreads; tomato and ricotta sandwiches; and the classic bacon, egg and cheese.

Events will slow in the winter, but Cooper knows his next move: In year two of the business, he wants to get his pizza bagels into the freezer aisle of grocery stores, specifically by his 30th birthday in January. He believes cracking the consumer packaged goods space will mean long-term success for the business.

Making and selling pizza bagels might not be his forever career, Cooper says, but he’s excited to see where it goes.

“I’m not going to force this business to work for me,” he says. “I look at it really practically, and if I’m having fun and I think there’s a lot of growth, and people are really enjoying the product, I’m going to keep doing it.”

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Over the last 10 years, I’ve hosted over 770 dinners, inviting everyone from Fortune 500 executives to strangers who just need a table to belong to. 

My work and mission has always been to help people build community and feel a stronger sense of gratitude. I love watching new relationships form, whether it’s a professional contact or a new friendship.

A pattern I’ve noticed is that the people with the highest emotional intelligence at our events don’t care about coming off like the smartest person in the room. Their biggest priority is making their conversation partner feel seen and understood.

Here are eight joyful phrases people with high emotional intelligence use to turn small talk into genuine connections. 

This is an invitation to go beyond the surface. It demonstrates that you are paying attention to not just the words the other person is saying, but the feelings behind them. When you do that, you show yourself to be both observant and trustworthy. 

People rarely know how they come across, and this is an opportunity to tell them. When you mirror a non-verbal cue back to someone, whether it’s a genuine smile or an imperceptible shift in their posture, it’s not only a great compliment, but it can also help your conversation partner clarify where their passions lie.  

People with high emotional intelligence value curiosity. This statement shows that you aren’t just looking for simple, agreed upon answers, and that you want to know more about how they think. 

In organizing these dinners, I’ve found that seeing how someone asks questions is actually a great way to get a better understanding of who they are and what drives them.

In a similar vein, don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know” or “I hadn’t considered that.” These responses signal that you’re open to being challenged. 

People with high emotional intelligence don’t always need to be right. They believe that life is more interesting when you leave yourself open to collaboration and discovery. This sense of humility makes them magnetic to be around. 

Instead of “How was your day?” which can lead to vague recaps that grind conversations to a halt, this question gives the other person a chance to recall a specific moment of joy. It’s a small shift that inspires gratitude and deeper reflection. It is also a simple way to stay present.

This one is inspired by my friend Michael O’Brien’s work. He is an organizational expert and executive coach who developed a framework called Appreciative Enquiry, which is all about flipping negativity bias.

We’re so wired to be on the lookout for problems, but when you ask people to articulate what’s actually working, you can help them see what is possible. 

This phrase is great when you’re in an office or networking context. It can help build a work culture that is driven by recognition, rather than criticism.

We live in a world that is often obsessed with instant gratification, but people with high emotional intelligence know how to slow down, and are generous with their time.

This phrase shows that you care enough to pause and lean in. This is one time when interrupting can actually be a positive thing for a new relationship. 

My friend and mentor Felipe Gomez, one of the most emotionally intelligent people I know, uses this phrase with me all the time. I’ll share some half-baked ideas, and he’ll simply say: “Tell me more.”  

It allows me to think more expansively and go in any weird or whimsical direction I want without fear of judgment.

All of these phrases can help turn ordinary exchanges into genuine moments of intimacy and trust. However, if you’re in a new social situation and you start to draw a blank, don’t worry about trying to say the “right” thing. Just find a way to show the person you’re with that they matter to you. 

Chris Schembra is the founder of the 7:47 Gratitude Experience, a consultancy that helps Fortune 500 companies and global leaders build stronger cultures of empathy, trust and belonging. A Wall Street Journal bestselling author and international keynote speaker, Chris writes about gratitude as a strategy for resilience, leadership and business growth.

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