like, wait, why am I saying, ‘When
I get older? I can do that now,’” she
explained.
Schmidt began the fostering
process in December of 2017,
completing it in June of 2018. In
July, she received her first child and
is now fostering single-handedly
a 4-year-old, a 2-year-old, and an
11-month-old. “What better way,
right now in my life, to be able to
serve not just the community but
these children who need love?”
said Schmidt. “For now, I have the
time and energy to serve as much as
possible.”
Schmidt’s service doesn’t stop
with the kids, however. “The cool-
est part of being a foster parent,”
said Schmidt, “is being able to get
to know the parent, and building
that relationship. Showing them
that, ‘Hey, you’re worth it.’” Unlike
many fosters, Schmidt has a posi-
tive relationship with her children’s
mother. Though it means having
to return the children, sh