If you saw them together, you'd know in an instant they were mother and daughter. They look exactly alike. They sound alike. They even act alike.

And that's the problem. What Christine sees in Emma reminds her so much of herself, she can't stand her own daughter.

It's obvious to everyone around: The son, Allen, is the chosen child... Emma is the rejected one.

Allen and Emma are only 11 months apart in age- almost like having twins. But Allen's personality is very different from his mother's. So they get along just fine. Emma is the one who suffers.

The dad, Mike, is beside himself trying to keep the peace in the household. From time to time Christine bursts out, "Well, you're just going to have to choose between me and Emma!"

Choosing between his wife and daughter is not what Mike wants. But he feels completely caught in the middle of a firestorm that he can't control.

This situation calls for not just counseling for Christine, but for the entire family. And it should be done immediately, because Emma (who is now 14) is tremendously damaged already from this relationship with her mother.