The spontaneous narratives of three brothers, ages 5, 8, and 11, in response to a structured story stem task were analysed for representations of positive and negative family interactions. The children had lived their entire lives with no permanent home, and often on the streets, in the care of their mother. The story stem task presented brief scenarios of parent and family conflict and a child's need for comfort. Analyses revealed children's understanding of basic family role structures; yet, their narratives were also characterized by emotional detachment, limited parental engagement, and self-centredness. Implications for young children's coping with great adversity are discussed.