Foster care is one of those things people don't usually discuss. There's this weird stereotype that exists in that community that those kids are different, even dangerous. I rather blame shows like Criminal Minds. Usually 99% of their serial killers grew up in foster care. People are so helpful. I suppose the idea is that these kids come with baggage that people just don't want to deal with. Which I guess is why about 18,000 kids per year "age out" of foster care having never been adopted. This was always strange to me because of the desperation of people looking to adopt-spending thousands to go abroad and adopt foreign born babies-but I digress.
I grew up in foster care and over the years, I have been asked everything you can possibly imagine, usually by strangers, because I've been forced to reveal that fact about myself. It's human nature. People are curious about things that aren't their experience. I even did an expert panel where potential foster parents had questions about their future foster children, really wild.
It's usually well meaning, and I always felt if a little discomfort to me as an adult helped even one kid not have to feel ostracized, then it's worth it! Here are the Frequently Asked Questions on growing up in foster care.