I Never Planned to Be a Dad That Day—But She Chose Me
While on patrol one afternoon in a park in Modesto, I noticed a young woman sitting alone on a bench, holding a newborn baby close to her chest. Her name was Kiara. She looked exhausted, vulnerable, and overwhelmed. I learned that she had recently aged out of the foster care system and was now homeless, struggling to care for her infant daughter, Nia, in difficult circumstances.
Feeling compelled to help, I took them to a nearby shelter where they could have a safe place for the night. I thought that would be the end of my involvement. But I couldn’t stop thinking about them. Over the next several weeks, I kept visiting Kiara and Nia. During those visits, Kiara began opening up about her fears and uncertainties around parenting.
She asked me questions—simple, honest questions about how to care for a baby, how to keep her safe, and how to be a mother when she didn’t feel…