This Argument Turned Ugly

(We’re all at my grandparent’s house for a birthday party. My mom has just told my cousin, who is about seven at the time, to do something he doesn’t want to do.)

Cousin: *huffily* “You’re not my mom! Why do I have to listen to you?”

Mom: *jokingly, but making a somewhat scary face at the same time* “Because I’m bigger, meaner, and uglier than you are!”

(My cousin grapples with this for a minute before coming up with a retort.)

Cousin: “You are not uglier than me!”