Though these things are all very accurate. I find myself thinking the picture created here is all very one-sided. Sometimes people get impatient because of their seemingly good agendas. I think my mother-in-laws sons want her holidays to be "perfect" (and we know that doesn't exist ever) and would get bent out of shape if anyone messed with creating that perfect illusion. To H's credit, he would definitely put the breaks on things when they "picked on" his sister. My mother-in-law has fourteen grandchildren/great grandchildren, so these are not uncomplicated affairs! As for my mother-in-law, like many mothers, she has a hard time seeing her son's flaws and therefore leaves her daughter without the ally she deserves. As for the favorite grandaughter, she really loves my mother-in-law, but, like me, she just tries to negotiate, as well as she can, the terrible unnecessary stress that everyone seems to put themselves through at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Happy Thanksgiving, ain't it all wonderful?