“Art Room Chaos Sparks Family Conflict: Seeking Restitution for Damaged Supplies” I my Wrong Here?

I’m a 29-year-old man who has a passion for drawing and exploring various art mediums. Over time, I’ve accumulated a significant collection of art supplies. My wife, Sally (27), also enjoys dabbling in art, and together we’ve transformed one of the rooms in our home into a dedicated art studio. With valuable art tools like my cherished Chartpak pencils and markers, we make sure to keep the room securely locked.

A few weeks ago, we hosted a birthday gathering for Sally’s aunt, and my brother-in-law (BIL) and sister-in-law (SIL) brought their two children, a 7-year-old girl and a 6-year-old boy, along with them. Unfortunately, amidst the preparations, we had forgotten to lock the door to the art room. Approximately an hour into the party, I noticed the absence of both kids and inquired about their whereabouts from SIL. She informed me that they were in the other room, engrossed in drawing. Although my wife wasn’t supervising them directly, she had mentioned which room it was. Realizing the situation, I hurriedly made my way to the art room and discovered a scene of utter chaos.

The most heartbreaking sight was my markers, now ruined due to the excessive pressure the kids had applied, causing the tips to fray. Overwhelmed with frustration, I raised my voice, instructing them to leave, which prompted tears and distress. BIL rushed over, confronting me for shouting at the kids, arguing that they are just children and markers are replaceable. He went as far as to label me foolish for spending so much money on markers.

Sally attempted to defuse the tension, but BIL redirected his anger towards her, criticizing our possession of an excessive amount of art supplies while not expecting kids to be tempted to use them. Determined to hold BIL accountable, I insisted that he cover the cost of replacing the markers and other damaged supplies. In response, he lashed out, hurling offensive remarks, and abruptly left. The rest of the family departed soon after.

After assessing the damages, I calculated that I needed approximately $375 to replace the ruined supplies. To make matters worse, the kids had scribbled on a piece I had been working on for the past week, as well as spoiling one of Sally’s completed artworks. When I presented BIL with the bill, he promptly blocked my attempts at communication.

Frustrated and seeking legal advice, I consulted a friend who is a lawyer. He assisted me by preparing a claim for small claims court and crafting a letter to send to BIL, for which I compensated him accordingly. Sally is in full agreement with pursuing this course of action, but the rest of her family has been unsupportive, dismissing the incident as a trivial matter over some markers. Only my father-in-law, who has also recently taken up painting, and my other sister-in-law concur that BIL should take responsibility. Now I find myself wondering if I’m being unreasonable. Am I the one at fault here?