Kristin Mitchell

Kristin MitchellKristin Mitchell  “The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” This quote is the faultless representation of Kristen Mitchell. Mitchell shows all of these traits in her teaching, everyday life, and radiant personality.

In November 2016, Mitchell fostered her first two boys. This placement was short-lived because they left two and a half days later. A week later, her phone rang and the social worker asked if she and her husband could take a 21-month-old little boy. They soon did. Mitchell says she thought she would die 3½ months later when he had to leave them. Two weeks later, they welcomed a little girl into their home. She was 16 months old at the time. She will be celebrating a year with Mitchell soon. Four months after little girl arrived, Mitchell welcomed the little girl’s 7-year-old brother into her home as well. Later, their second placement rejoined them. “I guess what makes me want to foster, even though it may be for a short time, is that I know I am giving these precious babies stability and love they may have never felt before. I am giving them the mama they need and deserve, and they are giving me the gift of motherhood.” Mitchell explained.

Even though everything seems exceptional in Mitchell’s life, it had not always been that way. In 2010, Mitchell went through the miscarriage of her son Alex. “Losing Alex was the hardest thing I had ever experienced,” Mitchell said. “Initially, I learned what people mean when they say God will give you peace that passes understanding. I was learning how to depend on him alone and how to trust his plan for my life.” Unfortunately, after attempting to have a child, Mitchell began to get angry at God and felt as if he were not listening to her prayers. Mitchell had wanted to be a wife, mother, and a teacher her whole life and did not know why God was not giving her what she wanted. “I was hurting so badly on the inside but was afraid to share it because it was not what everyone expected of me and my bubbly self. I finally started opening up to some of my friends and family, and in time God started healing my heart. I learned to accept that I would always wonder what Alex would have been like, but as the years have passed I am almost positive I know why God allowed me to experience this great loss.” Mitchell said.

On her way to Corinth Elementary School, where Mitchell was a teacher, she remembered passing signs that read, “become a foster parent”.  After seeing those signs, she would say to herself, “No, I ain’t doing it!”  Mitchell saw those signs for four years before she ever registered to become a foster parent. “Honestly, I never wanted to foster. I mean it is hard. It is hard loving someone with your whole heart when you know that you most likely will lose them.” she explained.

Kristin Mitchell was my second grade teacher the year after the loss of her son Alex. I remember her walking in every day with this inexhaustible supply of love for all of her students. This was despite all of the emotional baggage she was carrying. Whenever she stepped in the classroom, she left it at the door and was the happiest person in the room. Despite all that happened in her life, Mrs. Mitchell has been one of the kindest, gentlest, most appreciative, and most compassionate people I have ever met, and this is why I have chosen her as my hometown hero.