For what it’s worth, after spending 5 days with my in-laws over the winter break I have finally thrown up my hands and decided that for whatever reason they do not seem to love my children nearly as much as they love their other 3 grandchildren (and perhaps don’t like them very much at all).  I don’t think it has anything to do with my kids who everyone else says are terrific (hate to brag!).  If anything, their good qualities just make the other kids look worse which makes them pick on my kids more.  I think in our case it has more to do with the fact that my kids are the children of their son and the others the children of their daughters who they’re closer to.  Also, the other mothers have always lived closer and demanded more babysitting, etc. so they’ve spent more time with them.   But my kids have us and my parents love them so I’m just giving up on the other side.

Back to your situation, it’s hard to try to explain the situation to Mitzi in a way that won’t turn her against them (more than she probably feels already).  I guess try to emphasize that it’s just her and all those boys and the grandparents don’t think she’ll have fun with them and don’t have experience with girls and try to compensate by doing fun "girly" things like nail polish.  I know it’s pretty lame but it’s the best I can come up with!