How?

Well here I am taking things personally already!  I have several students in my room whom you might label
at risk, for lack of a better term.  And they have these eyes, that just look right through you.  Like they are thinking, ``Why the hell are you so sunny and cheerful?  Stop giving me useless beads for being a good kid, because I know that I`m not and I know that life is crap so stop pretending!``  At least, that`s what I feel like they would say if they could give voice to their inner-most feelings.  But they can`t.  They just look at me, occasionally cracking and actually giving me a smile or feeling proud of themselves, but most of the time just oozing attitude all over the place.  It`s like they`re not really kids, at least they don`t allow themselves to be.  And I wonder, how on earth I`m supposed to teach them things like reading and writing when they have seen and heard so much already?  When they have no faith in themselves to accomplish much and no support outside of school to help them.  Am I being egotistical or prejudiced to think that they need more than what they have?  How do I help them without losing myself?  That is the question I end up asking every year....usually after I have already ended up in a puddle on the floor myself.  So here`s to not taking everything so personally, the question is, how do I do it?