Adoption of Greta

This appeal arises from the granting of a petition of the Department of Social Services (department or DSS) to dispense with parental consent to adoption of a child, whom we shall call Greta, pursuant to G. L. c. 210, § 3.1 Born in December, 1992, Greta is now seven years old. She has lived *578with her foster mother (also her preadoptive mother) since she was six days old.

As part of his December 31, 1997, termination decree, the probate judge provided for postadoption visitation twice each year between Greta and the biological mother, if she requests it through the department or its contractor.…