Bumped up to business class on a DC->PEK flight several years back @30weeks pregnant. Seemed to be because I was alone and there was a group with a late connection coming in from Boston. I had ixnayed the “upgrade for a measly $xxx” on the auto-check-in, and was bumped up anyway. There was quite a bit of shuffling…

I’d say that parenting is all about teaching your kid to control themselves, not about controlling your kid. With small children, the difference is subtle, but self-control is a positive feedback loop, and makes all things easier.