Opinion ID: 1986881
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Evidence of Mother's inability to provide a stable home for the twins

Text: In its decision terminating her parental rights, the trial court recognized Mother's inability, for many reasons, to care properly for the twins' ongoing physical, mental or emotional needs. Sec. 211.447.4(6). Mother confided to an acquaintance that she was giving the twins up for adoption because of the financial burden, medical problems, and stress. The trial court found that termination was warranted because of the persistence of Mother's continued stress and sense of being overwhelmed, her continued indecisiveness, and a lack of family support for her. The majority, however, states that there is no evidence that the support Mother will receive will be any different than the support she received for her other children. Nothing in the record indicated Mother was capable of providing a stable home environment for the twins. Mother changed employment approximately 24 times from 1997-2002. Two members of her family testified that she was incapable of handling the twins. A DFS worker testified that Mother provided an unstable environment by moving numerous times. Furthermore, Mother's plan to take care of the twins involves the three of them staying at her mother's with J.G., J.S, and N.W. The children's grandmother and stepgrandfather have a three-bedroom home with an occupancy permit for four people, and they already have a grown son living with them. As such, Mother's plan would result in nine people living in her mother's home and is not realistic. Most telling is that Mother was equivocal in her own testimony concerning whether it was in the twins' best interests for them to return to her. [13]