The quiet kid in the carpool is still hearing every word the adults say.

Being silent is not the same as being absent. A kid in the back seat with headphones half in picks up the money worry, the comment about a cousin, the tone more than the words, and carries it around without anyone realising they handed it over. Quiet often means taking in more, not less.

If you are the quiet one, know that what you overhear is often half a story and you are allowed to ask about it. If you are older in the car, assume you have an audience. Either way, saying the thing out loud usually beats letting someone guess.