A Florida man, known only as CA in court records, had his parental rights to his daughter, now 13 years old, terminated.  That was because he was a crack addict and the state had placed the girl with foster parents who wanted to adopt her.

CA appealed the decision.  Before the Court of Appeal ruled, CA was hit by a car and died.  There may be a wrongful death suit by the deceased father’s estate.  With parental rights terminated, the daughter would not be entitled to share in any recovery.

The Court of Appeal has ordered the Trial Judge to reconsider.

“Even if the final judgment (severing C.A.’s rights was) soundly based and affirmed, it may not now be in the best interests of the child to do so,” says the Court of Appeal.

More details at Better Dad Dead by Miami Herald Reporter Carol Marbin Miller.

Having to pay for my kid’s braces, I particularly enjoyed Peter Erhlich’s blog at SingleDadLife.com called, Kids Deserve Straight Teeth and Success at School.

“No matter where you and your ex are at this moment, there are non-negotiable child-related issues that you must immediately come to terms with, regardless of your relationship, politics or court agreement,” Erhlich says.

Chief among these, after love, are straight teeth and success at school.  To me, this is a metaphor for saying that it doesn’t matter what your differences with your spouse are.  It doesn’t matter what the order or agreement says.  If they need braces, you have to do what it takes to get them braces.  When your kids need you to be their dad, you have to do it.  Because you’re the dad.