[plmatthews]

My two year old daughter's father agreed to give up parental rights, but a couple months later changed his mind saying he's going to prove to me that he's father material. I've given him many, many chances. He has only seen her a couple times, and ever since the child support court date (over a year ago) he hasn't tried seeing her since. He smokes marijuana, is an alcoholic, and pops pills. The only proof I have of that is a Myspace blog he wrote (which I printed out), with a lot of vulger words, his picture and name, and him admitting that he's a 'pill popping, pot smoking, borderline alcoholic and he's proud of it'. My husband wants to adopt her. He's been her daddy since she was 3 months old. What should I do?

[AK lawyer]

... My husband wants to adopt her. He's been her daddy since she was 3 months old. What should I do?

Point out to the child's father that in the long run it will be better for your daughter to have a stable father such as your husband and that if he really wants the best for her he will consent to a step-parent adoption.

[plmatthews]

I have, that was my point when I first brought it up. Then he said he couldn't stop thinking about her, and even moved to the state we live in (Tennessee) to be somewhat closer to her. He's been back for about a week, but hasn't even asked to come see her. His girlfriend is more important. His name is not on the birth certificate and she is not on his insurance because she would have to go to an army base for check ups, and she needs to go to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital because of her disability. He does have to pay court ordered child support, but as of late he legally doesn't have to because he over paid for a couple months.
I just don't know what to do. He has never really cared for her. When I first told him I was pregnant he said "F you" and didn't talk to me till he saw pictures of her on my mothers Facebook page.