Now that is one handsome bambino! I forsee him beating them off with a stick in 14 years or so.

As for the MIL, one of my sisters in law had an experience where her MIL was actively trying to poison her daughter against her. It's not a pretty thing, and, with all due and deserved respect to Panache, family can't be a sheild for reprehensible behavior. But on the other hand, to err is human and all that jazz, I hope that she can be made to undertand, or at least tolerate, the kilt.

Of course, if she doesn't, you could always strap a full-sized dirk (properly peace tied, of course) to the wee bairn's waist.