I need to debrief

So about my job (which I don't like to talk about due to confidentiality etc etc but ANYWAY)... after a week of no kids at all, this week we have finished up with a total of five in the house - ranging from 2wks old straight from hospital, to almost 3yrs old (mum is 18). In between there is a 5mth old whose mum is schizophrenic and escaping domestic violence; another one having his first birthday TODAY (happy birthday little man and welcome to a homeless shelter), and another 2yo with an 18yo mum who was raised by a junkie and who is still in love with her ex-partner who beat the crap out of her. *sigh*

I want to help them all, but trying to get time to even see them is hard when they are up and out the door in the mornings, often not to return until after dark (despite it being freezing cold outside and their baby needing a sleep!). Today one of them promised staff she was going to see about housing (a condition of their stay with us) and while I was out getting a coffee, I happened to see her scurrying along with her 2yo in the pram, then jumping into a ute with some rough looking guy, with the child in her lap (no car seat) and taking off for who knows where. I'd almost guarantee she was going to do drugs. I actually walked up and banged on the door of the car as he was taking off, and told her to promise me she'd be back before 4pm so I could talk to her, but of course she wasn't.

The thing is.. how much can I do? If I have an expectation that I'll save them all, I'm setting myself up for disappointment but the thought of little babies suffering just breaks my heart. I guess I need to find a balance and an appropriate level of detachment. I know that a baby needs to be with its mother and most mothers love their child no matter how shit a job they are doing so I hate the thought of a child being taken from its mum. They just need to be educated to be a better parent, but usually that involves working through a lifetime of crap, not just a couple of quick lessons in Parenting 101. Hence my dilemma. I see them so briefly.

So I think I need to go and watch West Wing and chill out for a while. I've been finding myself thinking about these kids and their mums at night and on weekends, and it really can be all-consuming when you let yourself get attached. Not that I'd change it, because I think if you get too detached, you can be uncaring and I like that I care, and I think THEY like that I care. So I won't change that.

But yeah.. balance...