Sterling Terrell

smart ideas from books (mostly)

  • Home
  • About
    • My CV
    • Books
    • Series
  • Newsletter
  • Advertising
  • Tools
You are here: Home / Potpourri / What To Do When Your Child Is Arguing Over Fairness

What To Do When Your Child Is Arguing Over Fairness

What To Do When Your Child Is Arguing Over Fairness
Arguing with your kids over fairness is hard, isn’t it?

“Ben did this! Well, Julie did that!”

It’s exhausting, frankly.

There is never a good answer.

Here is an idea: Try the high-ground maneuver to elevate the entire conversation.

After all, if you take away the premise, it might change everything.

Personally, I always try to give choices.

“Do you want to do X or Y?”

Naturally though, I get to pick the choices. 😉

If you have siblings, or you have more than one child of your own, you know kids like to use the “fairness” argument to get whatever their siblings already got. Most parents cave in and try to balance things right away. That’s like arming a child with a powerful persuasion weapon. The kid will trot out the fairness argument at every opportunity. My mother had a different approach. When my siblings or I complained about the unfairness of one thing or another, she would tell us bluntly that “life isn’t fair.” End of story. We were disarmed before the first shot was fired. That method is what I call the High-Ground Maneuver. It takes the debate out of the details—the weeds, I call them—and elevates it to the high ground where there is no disagreement.
-Scott Adams, Win Bigly

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: PotpourriTagged With: #Fairness, #Parenting

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Privacy Policy

Connect

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Free Weekly Newsletter:

Search

Top Posts

  • The Tricky Lily Pad Riddle (You Probably Can't Solve)
    The Tricky Lily Pad Riddle (You Probably Can't Solve)
  • Hyatt Hill Country Sunday House
    Hyatt Hill Country Sunday House
  • Finally Making It
    Finally Making It
  • Sentience vs Consciousness
    Sentience vs Consciousness
  • How A Human Life Is Like A Single Letter Of The Alphabet
    How A Human Life Is Like A Single Letter Of The Alphabet
  • Another Great Riddle For You To Try
    Another Great Riddle For You To Try
  • Wonder Park Pi Song (Watch It Stick In Your Head)
    Wonder Park Pi Song (Watch It Stick In Your Head)
  • Economics 101: Rosy Scenario Policy
    Economics 101: Rosy Scenario Policy
  • Random Thoughts - 123
    Random Thoughts - 123
  • Sarick Effect
    Sarick Effect

Supporting = Loving

Recent Posts

  • Finally Making It
  • Thankful You Are Here To Chat
  • 2022 Kentucky Derby
  • Random Thoughts – 338
  • Cafe Energy
  • Instabooks 362
  • Overwhelming and Stressful
  • Oblique Humor Is Better Than Anonymity
  • Random Thoughts – 337
  • With You Watching Tinker Bell
  • This Celebrity Grew Up With John McEuen
  • The Magic Of Comedic Confidence
  • Random Thoughts – 336
  • Not Offering Punchlines
  • A Needle In A Haystack, Not A Haystack
  • Living Closer To All Of
  • Instabooks 361
  • Random Thoughts – 335
  • My Mad Money Stash
  • Where I Sit 22
  • Of Farming But It’s Mostly
  • Unique Comedy
  • Bathrooms I Despise
  • A Letter To Every Email Unsubscribe
  • Skipping The Needless Drama

Copyright © 2022 · Generate Pro On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in