But whatever parents do, they're going to embarass their kids because it's just not cool/hip/phat/whateeeveeeerrrr to be old. and nobody wants to be like their parents.
If your parents are ageing hippies/goths. you'll be a straight-A preppie (We're trying this approach with our kids

)
If your parents are super-straight you'll do drugs and drop out
If your parents are republicans you'll be gay and join PETA/Greenpeace
If your parents are divorced you'll be a born again Christian/member of virginity-until-marriage-youth-group
If your parents are rich you'll shop at Walmart and the Salvation Army (and order $30 pizza when you're done); if your parents are poor, only designer will do....(McDonalds is designer, right?)
If your parents are pop stars, you might as well give up now, Delusionella Grumpypuss Hyundai.
My mum tried so hard to be cool, I ran out of levels of embarassment and decided to play the "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" school of thought. The height of the embarrassment came when, in the 80s, she grew a long curl of hair on one cheek and dyed it bright pink, then brought my forgotten lunch into my classromm, wearing one red and one blue stiletto shoe. Now I have children, I dye my hair bright purple, blue and red ALL OVER, and wear grotty black t-shirt, jeans and trainers all the time