“The Look, a code that parent and child understand but outsiders do not (similar to the pleasant expression you or your husband direct at each other at parties, meaning “I want to go home! Now!”). It consists of a tight little smile, in which the mouth curves upward but the eyes are fixed on the child with a decidedly unhumorous intensity. You may need to practice, but Miss Manners assures you that it is worth the effort. Done properly, it freezes an errant child in his tracks and dampens his desire for defiance with the dread of what is to come.”

- Miss Manners’ Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior (Freshly Updated), by Judith Martin