Opinion ID: 2382887
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The Quality of L.W.'s Interaction with her Biological Father and with the Adoptive Parents.

Text: L.W.'s relationship with her adoptive parents has been a splendid one. The trial judge found that L.W. calls them Mommy and Daddy, and they treat her as if she were their own child. L.W. has become a de facto member of the R. family, and she does not want to lose them. Additionally, L.W. has a sisterly relationship with petitioners' adopted daughter and grandchild-grandparent relationship with petitioners' parents, whom she visits several times a year at their home in New Hampshire. Her interaction with her biological father has been more of a mixed bag. She sometimes called him daddy [20] and sometimes Mr. W. Denise Keeling, a DHS social worker assigned to L.W.'s case, described the child's interaction with her biological father as more of an adult-child relationship than one of father and daughter. Judge Zeldon found that L.W.'s relationship with her biological father has generally been good, but she also discerned cause for concern: Outside ... F.W.'s presence, L.W. has shown by her conduct that the visits frequently caused her enormous stress. Sometimes she became quite agitated, demanding and pouty after visits with F.W.conduct which was not normal for her. L.W. has destroyed the cards, coloring books, and a snow suit and sweat suit given her by F.W. Moreover, L.W. told Dr. Van Ost in July 1991 that she would cry if she saw F.W. Dr. Van Ost said that L.W. is afraid of losing Mr. and Mrs. R. and also is afraid F.W. may hit her. [21]