I have always had things that are out of bounds! Like Camme-Lot I had experience with kids who weren't taught not to touch... I had lots of friends with kids before me & some had no concept of respecting other peoples things...

I say "it's special to me", "it breaks easily as it's glass"...etc etc... I've done this with all five of my kids. Like Rouge said it's exhausting and very repetitive and for a while it seems like it's not going to work but eventually I found I had little people who I could take out and would listen to "please don't touch it's special to xyz"... I have a friend who doesnt' teach this and it's so hard to have her and her kids over. They break so much... It's not their fault - it's just that they're not taught no! It's part of exploring boundaries & learning about what's acceptable behaviour. It's normal for them to want to push the boundaries. Immy is harder than the others - probably due to her developmental issues... But still she gets it - but needs more coaxing...

I think it wasn't a bright idea to give your daughter the glass globe - but I do get why she might have. Sometimes when you're a Gran it's hard to say no. She must feel a bit sheepish about it since she emailed you etc. I'd just roll with it. It's gone now and passed - but maybe explain the things on those shelves aren't for playing with as you'e trying to preserve them for posterity! If she keeps playing with them they will all have the same fate as the glass ball... xxxx