Court Opinion

ID: 9687099
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 16:16:04.151731+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:24.261328
License: Public Domain

HAYDEN, Judge
(specially concurring).
I concur specially.
I have yet to see a termination case that has not been difficult to decide. Not only are termination cases difficult to decide on appeal, but they are no less difficult to adjudicate in the trial court setting.
Unlike the majority, I do consider the letter in question in my determination of this appeal. I recognize it was written by someone else for the daughter to sign. The daughter was approaching seven years of age at the time of trial. I take into consideration she is young and of tender years. She, no doubt, was concerned about her mother’s reaction to her. Also, she had feelings of guilt and concern. I consider these and all other attendant circumstances surrounding the drafting of the letter and the daughter affixing her signature to it. I give it the consideration and weight to which it is entitled and not anything more or less. I do not disregard the letter based upon speculation or conjecture.
Termination may not guarantee these children a successful adoptive placement. However, it will provide them an opportunity for a better future than they have experienced with their mother or father in the past.
Children cannot be forced to await the maturity of their parents. In re M.L.W., 461 N.W.2d 609, 611 (Iowa App.1990) (citation omitted).
For these reasons, I specially concur with the majority.