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This article presents findings from a project that critically analyzed the naturally occurring discourse between a foster caregiver and youth. The purpose of the study was to examine the caregiver-child relationship and the way in which a child’s self is negotiated through interaction with a caregiver in a foster home setting. A discourse analytic approach was used to analyze the twenty-three observations of naturally occurring data collected over four months. This article focuses on the "boys to men" discourse genre, as illustrated through a segment of interaction, which highlights several themes relating to the cultural identity of responsible manhood. Themes include caregivers' role as teachers, cultural transmission of values, and motivation. The findings raise theoretical considerations for assessing child and adolescent behavior, advocating increased attention to the sociocultural environment.