I have few yet vivid memories of some of the foster teens my parents took in when I was a preschooler. One of them was a fun-loving African American girl who made us laugh by impersonating the Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz. Another stole our car. Nevertheless, overall, even my parents agree that it was a good experience for our family. Later, I would marry a man raised in part by foster parents, so, needless to say, I have great respect and admiration for foster parents.

I have a friend who recently, along with her husband, completed the application process to become a licensed foster parent, and got her first "assignment": a baby boy. It was a big adjustment, as my friend's only biological child is now in high school. But she relished the experience, sleep deprivation and all, only to have it end one short week later. You see, foster parents, by definition, provide a temporary home for those in their care (unless they move forward with adoption). Depending on the individual child's family situation, different, more permanent placement could become available at any time. A great foster parent will love the child with everything they have, even knowing that the child could leave at any time. This is true selflessness. Thank you to those unsung heroes: foster parents.