In this essay, a foster parent discusses misconceptions about foster parents and foster children and makes the following recommendations: do not tell foster parents that they are saints or angels, watch what you say around the foster children, do not act surprised that foster children are nice and well-behaved, don?t hate on their parents, do not expect the foster children to be grateful to their foster parents, understand foster parents do not get paid, do not say you could never give the children back to their parents because someone has to do it, do not ask if the children have been adopted yet, understand most children will go home or to a family rather than being adopted, realize it isn?t help to tell foster parents to give the children back, understand they are real kids and foster parents are not babysitters, realize fostering is hard, and support foster parents the same ways you would a family that had a baby. A list of ways people can help support foster parents is provided.