I do think Tv does effect some kids more than others.

I remember when I was teaching we had a girl from a fairly nasty b/ground (abused by father, mother dumped her on the aunty, alot of problems prior to coming to us). She was standing on the top of a retaining wal one day threatening to jump, the wall was only a little over a metre from the ground so she wouldn't have been hurt, but kids were coming to me on yard duty telling me that this child was going to jump and kill herself. This child really got off on drama.

The other thing is some parents just don't want people to get involved in their lives, and will cover up things they don't want others to know. Maybe the child said what she did bc someone else in the family says it or has done it. Unfortunately alot of kids live in environments where this stuff really does happen.

Sometimes I think we should think before we say stuff bc I know I have said to DH "I'm gonna kill you!" and the kids have said "are you really going to kill Dad?" Of course I don't mean it but kids don't understand sarcasm or dark humour.

My guess is the parent felt she was being judged by your SIL, not that I think your SIL was doing this, but parents get very defensive sometimes.

Cheers Michelle