Teaching children independence
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Oregon's Young Mother of the Year calls herself "no-nonsense" and strives to teach her kids independence, self-reliance and kindness.
"I teach them to always, always, always strive to be kind," said Melanie Henstrom. Luke 6:31, "And as ye would that men should do unto you, do ye also to them likewise," is one of the most frequently-quoted scriptures in their home, she said. The Henstroms also have a strong emphasis on family prayer and scripture study, following the prophetic counsel to do so daily.
"Scripture study and prayer in the morning really helps," she said, as well as Family Home Evening. "We rarely miss."
Dinner is another thing the family gathers together to do and seldom skips. Sister Henstrom views these family dinners as an opportunity to catch up and hear about everyone's day.
Sister Henstrom said having six kids – including a set of twins – often makes people think her life is really chaotic, but it's not. She employs a strong "work before play" ethic to Breanna, 14; Emily, 12; Nathan, 10; Joshua and Spencer, 8; and Stephen, 5, and says since the kids know homework and cleaning must come before playing with friends and TV, things almost always get done in a timely manner.
"I just do a gentle reminder if they get off task," Sister Henstrom said. They were taught at an early age that no matter what, they'll have to do their chores, so they might as well do them quickly, she said.
Sometimes the children will ask for help with their homework, but other than that everything is done very independently.
"I feel very blessed with that," Sister Henstrom said, that they do everything — geometry included — by themselves.
Sister Henstrom said this kind of work ethic is also a blessing as it shows she's on her way to achieving her ultimate goal with her children that she has had from the beginning.
"In the end," she said, "I knew I wanted them to be independent."
This is part of a series featuring LDS women who are their states' Mother of the Year and Young Mother of the Year representatives.
