I have to say I was saddened by what I read in this article. I think the people who become foster parents are self-less, amazing people, but I was quite surprised by the teenager's comment about many foster parents who smoked around children. I just assumed that people who made the huge commitment to foster parent, would take the role seriously in every regard, and not engage in any activity that was not beneficial to children. I know that is an extremely narrow-minded, and probably unrealistic idea. I felt awful for that little girl, and felt so sad that she would have to worry about her younger brother breathing in and possibly becoming ill from the second-hand smoke. I don't mean to put any foster parent down, as I said, I think their sacrifices are amazing.

Should smoking be banned in foster homes? Honestly, that’s a tough one. I am not a smoker, have never been a smoker and can hardly stand to be around someone who is smoking. I know secondhand smoke is bad for me, but mostly I just think the smell is horrible. As an adult, I can choose to be somewhere else. Kids can’t just leave their foster homes. But kids can’t leave biological parents either. If smoking is banned in foster homes, shouldn’t it be banned in all homes with children? I’m pretty sure that’s not going to happen.

What really stood out to me was the fact that this girl had been in foster care for some time, probably not the easiest life, yet is doing well enough that she was chosen to serve as a page in the legislature.