“Defer to the higher authority.” This became a technique I’d use to defuse fights. Instead of telling a toddler that I needed him to go to bed or that he needed to put on his shoes, I would say, “The clock says it’s time for bed” or “The restaurant’s dress code says you have to wear shoes.” It wasn’t a cure-all—it maybe cut down on arguments by 20 percent, but even that was a welcome improvement.
