Here is my take on it. I don't child proof my house. I teach the kids that they can't touch stuff that is fragile, I just tell them its fragile or if its glass, I tell them its glass.
If they keep on touching it (which hardly ever happens, usually a couple of no's is enough and they stop whatever they are doing) I remove them from the situation, not the object. My thinking is that I can't expect every other person in the world to childproof their houses, especially if they don't have children, so I should teach my children to not touch these things (or listen when I say no) so then I know they will be ok at other people's houses.
Whereas in comparison - my sister childproofs her house, she has locks on drawers everywhere, and when her children were little (and I didn't have any) she got up ME when they came to my house and was touching my stuff - because I didn't child proof my house. Well - why should I? I don't have any children! So because I felt that way, I don't expect anyone to childproof their houses for my children.
For us i moved stuff untill DD was about 12 months, then when she could understand and react to no, dont touch, i taught her that, and she doesnt touch the stuff...like power points etc. before 12 months it was just pointless and a constant...dont touch dont touch with out actually stopping her touching!!!
As for your MIL.....silly, bad judgment call, just cause she was reaching for it is no excuse to give a child a fragile glass object!!! maybe just point out that if its our of her reach in the first place there is probably a good reason for that!! hugs
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