My wife and I were married right at 25 yrs when she passed away. In all that time I managed to get over on her a few times because of one situation that happened not long after we were married.
Now, my wife was probably the most intelligent and smart person I ever knew. How she ended up with me is still a mystery. But, I digress. We were discussing a topic that I knew I was without a doubt, beyond all reason, right about. She, of course, was telling me I was wrong.
We used to have coffee on Saturday with her mother who lived across the street. She said, "Momma, I want to ask you a question." Mom's "ok." She laid out the topic and even presented my side accurately. Then, the payoff. "Who's right?" Mom, "he is." Oh shit, it hit the fan big time. She thought her mother should take her side automatically. Her mother said right is right, and he's right.
Everytime after that I knew I was on solid ground all I had to do was say "let's go ask your mother".
Tone.