Lizbud although I feel the child obviously has some emotional issues regarding abandonment by her natural birth mother, she has a very loving mother in Kim and her real dad, I don't really feel her life is that sad, infact i think she is exceptionally lucky to have someone as caring as Kim, she just does not see that.

It does affect the child, in my mind there is no doubt, as I have seen it with my own son, more like an anger inside of them, but all the same my own son has had a good upbringing, a mother who loved him and a father who although not his natural father, he could not wish for better.

I think it is too darn easy to blame it all on this alone, she is just giving her parents a hard time right now, probably no different to any other rebellious teenager, it is just we tend to let them off because of other circumstances.

I support Kim 100 per cent here, now she just needs hubby to do the same, I can well understand he feels like piggy in the middle, but all kids need and actually want discipline, once he gets the hang of it, he will see it works and no longer need to feel guilty, tell him Kim he should feel more guilty about letting her away with things, which will in the long run only be detrimental to her well-being.

Now if only I could get my own hubby to discipline his child more. ho hum.

Kim my hubby is like your's in the fact he is a kind, caring loving Dad, he just hates to be the disciplinary parent, it is mostly my job, and it does become tiring doesn't it?