I've never written to the show, but felt very compelled to write about this. Forgive me- I'm sure I may repeat someone. I wanted to express my feelings before reading other opinions.I can so empathize with Leah. As the Mom of two now-grown children, I was psycho-hippie-earth mom and am writing from hopefully a wiser place.

It was obvious that Leah would die for their child, give her both kidneys if necessary. Daddy loves her as much, too. I know Leah would not believe it, but I feel she doesn't give in to her child when she throws a tantrum for the child's benefit, but for herself. She doesn't want to feel the pain of having to be firm and set limits. Sofia cannot feel safe without having limits set. No three and a half year old should be running the family. This is not about bottles at night. It is about having a little girl think the entire universe revolves around her and her whim of the moment.Her parents owe her the gift of learning how to treat others with kindness. How to be a good winner and a good loser. How to deal with it when someone is better at geography, or math, or dancing than she. What is going to happen when she heads off to school and runs smack-dab into a child or teacher who thinks she's nice enough, but no more special than little Julie or little Amanda. And it will happen. She will never adjust to reality if all she knows is that she has been Queen of the Day and Night and who in the world are these nuts who think otherwise?

Kids need to see Mommy treated with respect and love by Daddy and vice versa. One of the biggest gifts a parent can give a child is a healthy relationship with their mate. This just can't happen when Mom and Dad haven't had a full nights sleep since she popped out and into their bed. I feel bad when I'm bitchy. So does Sofia. Deep in that smart little brain she knows she should not have the adult responsibility of calling the shots for how life will be in the home, even if she can't quite put it into that sort of thought. If Leah doesn't get a grip and go bawl her eyes out in the bathroom if need be because she has to say "no" to her little girl, I'm afraid she is harming her child. How unfair, and only because she doesn't want to say no. She says she wants to feel her child won't ever have to be unhappy. How happy will she be when no child wants to be her friend because she is bossy, self-centered and bitchy? What will she want to be when she grows up? I know..... a goddess! Good luck with that one! Changes need to be made so that life in this home is being run by the adults. Sofia is obviously smart and will pull every trick out of the hat that has ever been used to get things back to her comfort zone. I hope Leah can see that she owes her child a better shot at being a successful, loving, giving, thoughtful person.

Parenting is overwhelming. A series of self-doubts, second guesses, guilts, fears and wishes to get a do-over. But it is the most rewarding job a person could ever hope to be blessed with. Leah needs to stop trying to be her child's best friend and start being what God created her to be.... Sofia's Mom.

Leah and Angelo are very loving caring parents BUT they need discipline, they need to take control of their lives now before it's too late. If they don't gain control now, what is going to happen when she is a teen and really won't listen to them. The bottles at bedtime are her way of controlling the situation and it's also her "pacifier"... her way to get back to sleep. You could always call Jo Frost (Supernanny)... she has many, many ways to help you involve Sophie in getting rid of her bottles and giving her help and suggestions to replace the comfort she gets from sucking on the bottles. Teaching discipline, consideration, and proper behavior is important at an early age or you may never have control of your lives again. Sophia needs a distraction a substitute to help her get back to sleep. Good Luck!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your comments. I was appalled by Leah's lack of parenting. Of course she loves her daughther and wants only the best but....give me a break. Leah & Angelo are lazy...you could see that on the video. They didn't even try...after the second time Sophia cried, Leah immediately gave her the bottle. There are no rewards or tricks...it is called parenting. Sophia shouldn't be running the house. She should be sleeping in her own bed, potty trained and not drinking from a bottle. Throw the bottons away. Make her a part of it and explain why we are doing this and JUST DO IT!!!

I can't imagine what is going to happen to this child if the parents don't step up and become parents, not friends with their child. Parenting is tough!! This child manipulates her parents to get what she wants. If the parents continue this, I would not to see what she will be like when she is a teenager. First it will be dating at age 12, clothes, jewelry, cars, etc. If she doesn't get what she wants, she will hold her parents as hostages until she does. Tantrums, running away, will be her style. How sad!!!

--- Edited by Hokugirl67 at 2008-04-27 16:47:26 ---

--- Edited by Hokugirl67 at 2008-04-27 17:07:18 ---

First things first I have never written on blogs for stuff that I have seen on the Rachael Ray, but I found it very interesting when Leah was on the show. I have not always been the best mom but there are times when you cannot always give in. The problem with that is that they child tends to rule the house and the parents which is not good at all. The one thing I would suggest is maybe Leah should try calling Super Nanny she has helped so many families maybe that would help if not that. Then Leah should go to the store with her daughter Sophia and tell her that bottles are no longer going to be in our house and that she can pick out her own Big Girl Cups. You want to make it a fun experience for Sophia it might make her want to give up her bottles if you make it seem like if she does this she is becoming such a big girl. Hope this helps if you need any more information please feel free to send me a message sincerely mrskittykat79,& The Nussbaum Family, Kathleen (a.k.a. mrskittykat79), Richie, Hannah Marie who is 4 years old and Casey Matthew who is 3 years old from Cicero Illinois

I too have never written to the show but felt so strongly watching today. It is just sickening to watch leah be so lazy and NOT take proper care of her child..... yes I said CARE! Children need structure and rules, how will they ever learn to be decent adults. I have 3 children and of course we all make mistakes but to act so ignorant as tell let the child run the house is just dumb. These parents need to grow up and raise their daughter not the other way around. Leah just disgusted me today.

I hope Leah is beginning to get reality. Is she doing her daughter a favor buy spoiling her? The world will not cater to her when she grows up and starts school. What will either of them do then? Will momma take her a bottle and change her diaper during recess?
I had 3 kids and kids need to cry and will train the parents easier than they can be trained.