tonight's question — what was hard that you did anyway

At the table, asked without ceremony — what was hard today that you did anyway?

Homework counts. Waking up counts. Saying sorry counts double, though do not say so; let the table discover it.

Two rules for the asker. Do not convert any answer into a lesson — the answer was the lesson. And a shrug is also an answer; it is holding something that has no words yet, which is its own kind of hard thing done anyway.

Then answer it yourself, honestly. Children are quietly astonished to learn that adults find things hard every single day and continue. That astonishment teaches itself; you only have to be truthful and pass the sabzi.