A SELFLESS young couple first became foster parents at the ages of 22 and 24.

Lauren Knapp, now 24, and her husband, Elijah, now 26, have cared for six children in total since first becoming foster parents two years ago.

Lauren recalls always wanting to become a foster mum since the age of 11 because she wanted to be able to give a safe home to children that need it.

And after going on her first date with Elijah at the age of 19, she told him she was going to become a foster mum so he was aware of her dreams.

The couple went on to foster their first child two years ago, after Lauren sadly had a miscarriage. 

Lauren, from Michigan, said: "I was 22 when we fostered our first child who was a one-year-old little girl.

"Since then we have had four other girls and a boy who was three years old and younger.

"We currently have an 11-year-old girl who we have been caring for since she was 9.

"I decided to become a foster parent when I was 22 because I had been pregnant and sadly lost the baby.

"We had already been planning on being foster parents, but when we lost our baby, we realized that that was the time to begin the process.

"We had also moved into a two-bedroom home and I could just envision foster daughters in the house.

"So we decided to start the process.

"I first mentioned fostering to my husband on our first date when I was 19.

"He just smiled at me and told me he loved the idea, which was great.

"Within three months of starting the process, we had our first little girl."

Lauren says that people are shocked that the couple decided to become young foster parents because they think they are willingly giving up their freedom.

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They have also experienced people telling their foster kids that they aren't their parents because five out of six of the children have been of a different race.

But despite ignorant comments, Lauren and Elijah plan to keep fostering children, have biological children in the future, and they would also love to adopt.

Lauren said: "I was blessed to have a loving mum and I wanted to represent that to kids that didn't have it.

"At first the kids don't trust anyone. They are so guarded and they don't even know how to be a kid.

"But there is an amazing moment when you see all that disappear and there is a sparkle in their eye again.

"It's such a healing moment. It makes it all worthwhile because it can be really hard.

"Being exposed to so much trauma and knowing what these kids go through is difficult.

"It makes you much more aware than what you'd like to be."

Lauren says that fostering children has completely changed their life and is so glad they started doing it.

I decided to become a foster parent when I was 22 because I had been pregnant and sadly lost the baby.

She added: "It doesn't just change the life of the child, it changes your life too.

"It toughens your skin and softens your heart.

"It changes who you are in the best way.

"It will be something that we will continue to do throughout our life.

"When we buy a bigger home, we want to take in pregnant teenage girls to help them too."

COULD YOU FOSTER?

FOSTERING a child is a job like no other. It’s a massive, life-changing commitment – but one that can be so rewarding for both the foster carers and the child they are looking after.

The application process typically takes six to eight months, with stages including a home visit, criminal record checks, social worker meetings, reference checks and extensive training.

Once approved, you can then provide a stable and loving home for children in need. The UK’s biggest fostering and adoption charity, Tact, says applicants must meet the following criteria:

•  Be more than 21 years old.
•  Have a spare bedroom
•  Be a full-time resident in the UK or have indefinite leave to remain
• Have good spoken and written English
• Have the time and availability to dedicate yourself to fostering.

You don’t have to be in a relationship to become a foster carer.

Your marital status, sexuality, age, and whether or not you own a home, will also not impact your application.

Tact foster carers receive a maintenance allowance for the child they are caring for, which covers essentials such as food, clothing, transport and household expenses.

They also get a foster carer fee – which varies depending on circumstances. For more information, visit tactcare.org.uk.

A couple shared how they gave up freedom in their 20s to foster 15 children.

Meanwhile, a couple who fostered 620 kids in 56 years reveal golden rules of parenting including how to deal with jealousy & time-out.

And a woman was 22 when she fostered a 15-year-old girl and she was her bridesmaid.

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