There is something special about Mickey Hogan. It could be her cheerful presence or her contagious laugh. Her kids will tell you that she makes a mean turkey tetrazzini and holds her own in a game of touch football.

And their smiles say much more.

Hogan, 42, is a family teacher at Mooseheart Child City and School on Route 31 north of North Aurora. She cares for the boys who live at the Ontario residence -- it's a full-time job and she lives at the residence.

Most mothers will tell you it's tough to be a mom to one child. Hogan does all the hard work of a loving mother, cooking and cleaning and nurturing, but multiplied by 10, five days (and nights) a week.

"She goes above and beyond to see that these boys are respected and cared for," said Mooseheart Executive Director Scott Hart. "Family teachers are really surrogate parents to the kids."

It's all in a day's work to Hogan, who enjoys every minute of being a mother figure to the boys who range in age from 7 to 12.

Nine-year-old Joey says Hogan is like a good friend.

"She's fair and she lets us do stuff, like bring our money when we go shopping," the youngster said.

Joey moved to Mooseheart two years ago from St. Charles. "My mom couldn't take care of me," he said.

Without a teaching certificate, though, Hogan's options in the teaching profession were limited.

When she came upon the position at Mooseheart, Hogan, who is from the Aurora and Naperville areas, thought it was still an orphanage. She would learn that the "Child City" is a residential living facility with nearly 30 residences.

"For whatever reason, the (child's) guardian is unable to take care of them," Hogan said of the children in Mooseheart's care. It could be financial or health reasons. "A lot of times (Mooseheart) might be a safer environment from where they are coming from," she said.

"Relationship development is very important. It can be hard for the kids," Hogan said.

Children may not understand why they are living at Mooseheart, and it is important to provide a stable, structured group environment for them, she said.

"The goal is to teach the social skills they'll need to be successful in life," Hogan said.

But the smaller, daily goals are equally important, like getting ready for school in the morning, doing chores and homework, and just being a kid.

Living at Mooseheart took getting used to at first.

"It is definitely a lifestyle that you have to embrace -- all parts of it," she said.

As the cornerstone of the Ontario residence, she doesn't see any changes in the foreseeable future.

"I like being with the boys. Even on my days off, I'll see how their day has been," she said.

Hogan has helped to raise about 20 boys since being at Mooseheart. She's been with 9-year-old Jacob the longest.

"I like being taken care of and getting fed. We get treated right. Mickey takes care of us," Jacob said.

He has been at Mooseheart for six years. He says he doesn't know the whole story of why he is there.

"Jacob was really struggling. We were working with him and helping him. Knowing that I helped him work through the struggles is very rewarding," Hogan said.

"She's nice. She cooks and plays with us and finds activities for us," said 8-year-old Styles.

Before coming to Mooseheart, Styles traveled to at least a half-dozen states to stay with various relatives. His brother, Skylar, 7, also lives in the Ontario residence.

On Sundays, Hogan instructs a Catechism class for some of the boys.

"She will take the time and push herself to show them that they are important and their life matters," Hart said. "She always has a smile on her face and her boys are always happy."

"It is very rewarding," Hogan said. "It is not what I expected at all."