As kids get older, getting more than a one-word answer can feel like a parenting victory. You try to set aside time for a real conversation, but sitting down face-to-face can make the whole thing feel larger than it needs to. Often, some of the best conversations happen when nobody is trying to have one. That’s what makes car rides surprisingly useful for parents. Use the setup to your advantage. A drive to baseball practice, school, or an appointment takes some of the pressure off. The conversation has a natural ending point, and nobody has to sit down with a specific goal in mind. Kids may also be more willing to open up when they can look out the window instead of feeling like they’re being studied. Turn Routine Drives Into Easier Connections Your Best Conversations With Your Child Might Happen Behind the Wheel
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Gab and Mikey have been helping at the firm since they were old enough to walk. They grew up here, pitching in however they could and becoming part of its story from the very beginning. My mom has also been a constant source of encouragement and never-ending support, always believing in me and in what I was trying to build. Nicole Rego helped me transform what began as a very small shop into the amazing firm we have today. Her ideas, commitment, and belief in what Monteforte Law could become have shaped the firm in ways that would be impossible to overstate. I could not have reached 20 years without any of them. This anniversary belongs to them, too. I am proud of what we have built, deeply grateful for everyone who has been part of it, and still excited about what comes next.
Thank you for allowing us to be your estate planner for life.
–Mike Monteforte Jr.
Of course, no one wants to turn every car ride into a serious
conversation. The idea is to find time to check in and chat, and you don’t need to claim the whole ride. If the trip takes 30 minutes, try spending 10 of them
Dutch Apple Pudding Cake
without phones or music. It’s not supposed to be an
Ingredients
interview, so keep the questions simple but open-ended. “How was your day?” will often get nothing more than a “fine” in response. A better question gives
• Nonstick cooking spray • 1 20-oz can apple pie filling • 1/2 cup dried cherries, dried cranberries, or raisins • 1 cup all-purpose flour • 1/4 cup granulated sugar • 1 tsp baking powder • 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup milk • 2 tbsp butter, melted • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted • 1 1/4 cups apple juice • 1/3 cup packed brown sugar • 1 tbsp butter
them somewhere to go, like, “What was the weirdest part of your day?” or “Did anything happen that annoyed you?” Ask less, listen more. Once you get them talking, resist the parental urge to turn every answer into advice. If you get them to open up and tell you something frustrating or embarrassing, just listen … even if it’s tough! Despite having meaningful advice up your sleeve, responding with an immediate solution or quick lecture can shut them down. Instead, acknowledge what they tell you with a simple answer that keeps the conversation open without making them feel judged. If your child doesn’t want to talk, don’t force the conversation. A quiet ride can still be useful because it keeps the door open without adding pressure. Over time, those tiny, low-pressure moments can make it easier for kids to speak up when they actually do have something to say. Not every drive needs to become meaningful, but a regular habit of leaving room for conversation can make the car feel like a more comfortable place to talk.
Directions 1. Lightly coat 4-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. 2. In small saucepan, bring apple pie filling to boil; stir in cherries. 3. Transfer apple mixture to cooker. 4. In medium bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. 5. Add milk and melted butter; stir until combined. 6. Stir in walnuts. Pour and evenly spread batter over apple mixture in cooker. 7. In the same small saucepan, combine apple juice, brown sugar, and the 1 tbsp butter; boil gently, uncovered, for 2 minutes. 8. Pour apple juice mixture over batter in slow cooker. 9. Cover and cook on high-heat setting for 2–2 1/2 hours. 10. Turn off cooker and cool, uncovered, for 30–45 minutes.
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