I'm not sure being patronizing or sarcastic is particularly productive for situations where the person you are speaking to is of a higher status than you. This strikes me as something one wishes one could say, but doesn't dare.

This strikes me as something one wishes one could say, but doesn't dare.

I've said it. When someone acts like a child, it's not patronizing to call them out: it's treating them with respect.

> When someone acts like a child, it's not patronizing to call them out: it's treating them with respect

While this is actually correct, someone wise enough to intuitively grasp this probably isn't going to be throwing a tantrum in the first place.

Sometimes all you need to do is point it out.

"I understand you are very stressed and frightened but we can deal with this if we put our minds to it"

Anger comes from fear.

Yeah, that's a good one too.

Sometimes anger comes from habit.