Browsing: it is hard to shake a mindset that being twice as good as white people will combat negative stereotypes and give our children access to the American dream. But as parenting trends come and go

       The car ride to and from school is a boon for parents. Our kids are forced to listen to us, since we control the radio, the windows, and the hotspot. I use these precious minutes to learn about my kids’ school days; talk about mean girl antics, homework, and, of course, what’s for dinner. They are relatively forthright about what’s going on — though it may take hours before I get the whole story from my 10-year-old daughter, especially if she was in the wrong. My teenage son, who used to tell me everything, typically responds with one-word answers and then disappears into his phone. Not to be ignored, I pepper him with: How did you do on your exam? Were you prepared? Why do you have missing assignments? Did you email your teacher? And, before I know it, he shuts down and I am on fire, threatening to send him to public school if he doesn’t perform better.