Hi, always hopeful, welcome to PsychCentral (PC). What a difficult job you have! I guess were I in your shoes I would remember that we can't really know where another gets their hope, they may remember you and your kindness and take comfort from you?

I am reminded of an episode of the TV series "Castle" where there's a kid in trouble whose guardian is his uncle who is always gone/doesn't care, etc. http://abc.go.com/shows/castle/episo...-the-influence and one of the detectives decides to take care of him for the night/period of time they need to catch the boy's "handler" but the boy sneaks out and warns the guy so the guy is able to be prepared. The detective is able to convince the boy to help (that the handler does not care about him, is just using him) and later the detective gives the boy his own police folder, he'd been a troubled teen himself with a long police rap sheet but someone had come along and helped him and he became a respected police detective, etc. The show is well done.

How you live your life/who you are is also part of the childrens' lives, they see you and experience how you care for them, etc. and it sounds to me like you do that well. Have hope for yourself and your abilities and the kids will soak that up, whether you ultimately know it or not?