Two teenage brothers who are homeschooled wake up early every day to cook for their family, sparking gratitude from their parents.
The boys, aged 13 and 17, live in a household with six siblings, with their faith in God serving as the foundation for everything they do. Their mother, going by the name Mrs. Smith, shared the family’s story on Instagram under the handle @mamasbrush with The Epoch Times, while requesting to remain anonymous.
Mrs. Smith believes in preparing children for life from a young age. She emphasized the importance of instilling work ethics early on in their upbringing.
“For them, instilling vocational ethics from a young age is crucial,” she told The Epoch Times. “When they were old enough to help out, we started giving them tasks. They knew from early on to work alongside the family and then play together… We want them to have a heart to serve others, both in their own family and elsewhere.”
These values were not instilled when the boys turned 18 or entered high school; instead, they were gradually taught from a young age and given more responsibilities as they matured.
The proud mother of six children can’t recall when her sons started making breakfast. She said that while she might have initially asked them to do so, the boys “never stopped doing it and never complained.”
The brothers wake up between 6:30 and 7:30 in the morning to read the Bible. Around 8 a.m., they start preparing breakfast and lunch for their father, as well as breakfast for the family. While occasionally their mother takes over, most mornings, the kitchen is the boys’ domain.
“If they feel unwell or something else comes up in the morning, I’ll take over,” their mother said, “but in most cases, they prefer to do it themselves.”
Mr. Smith’s breakfast is typically the same, with his 17-year-old son making a simple breakfast sandwich using English muffins, eggs, and ham.
“He treats it like a science,” Mrs. Smith said. “The English muffins take 7 minutes, with 10 seconds left for toasting, during which time he prepares other foods.”
After toasting the English muffins, he adds butter, assembles the sandwich, and then begins making breakfast for his siblings.
“This is what he truly enjoys doing, most mornings working on his oatmeal recipe himself,” the mother said.
Meanwhile, the 13-year-old brother prepares a bento box for Mr. Smith, typically filled with vegetables, fruits, meats, and cheeses.
“He particularly enjoys this job because he usually gets to snack on some cheese and meats along the way,” Mrs. Smith said.
The assistance provided by the sons is a great blessing for the couple, allowing them to have extra time in their schedule. Mrs. Smith utilizes this time for activities such as reading the Bible and praying.
She said, “I used to read the Bible in the morning before, but with more time to read and pray, it helps me start the day with clearer focus to better train and guide our children.”
Undoubtedly, the parents are grateful for the help provided by their sons and frequently express their sincere gratitude towards them.
Mrs. Smith said, “I often thank them for what they do for me and constantly remind them how much of a blessing they are to me, how precious they are in this family! They are very modest about it, but I believe they feel a sense of accomplishment and importance as they engage in things that truly have the potential to change our era.”
Mrs. Smith recently shared a video online featuring her boys preparing meals for the family. Many netizens lauded the teenagers, praising their actions.
“We have received a lot of positive feedback from those who are training their children to do chores at home, as well as from those who want to do the same,” she said.
“The main reason I initially shared this story on Instagram was to challenge a popular notion that children are just children until they reach adulthood. In this parenting method, we cultivate young adults aged 18 to 24 who are unable to do anything for themselves and struggle to take on adult responsibilities,” Mrs. Smith added.
The couple, married in 2005, has prioritized instilling character, confidence, and a strong work ethic in their children while homeschooling to influence their lives and incorporate biblical teachings into their daily routines.
“Each of them can become an independent individual at home, encouraging them to grow uniquely,” their mother said.
Helping each other comes naturally to the six siblings.
“It’s normal here. As a family, we work together and serve each other,” Mrs. Smith said.
Indeed, the children assist with everything from doing the dishes to yard work. By teaching children to do chores, Mrs. Smith aims to prepare them for the future when they leave home, noting that this discipline requires “years of consistency.”
“We started teaching our children to work from a very young age, but they learn in a way that they find fun,” Mrs. Smith said.
For example, the children learned to do laundry and fold clothes as they grew older. Even if their first attempts at folding weren’t perfect, they eventually improved their skills. She also allowed the younger children to help “wash” dishes with her, and eventually, they could do the dishes themselves.
“As soon as a child is competent at a task, we begin teaching them. It doesn’t take long before they mature and can do it themselves. They are very proud of what they can do!” she said.
Of course, their mother always ensures they have fun after a hard day’s work. She advocates for a “work before play” mindset, allowing the children to have healthy playtime. The values of hard work and good character instilled during their upbringing make the actions of the children of this couple not surprising.
As Mrs. Smith stated, “If our children can be taught to be contributors to our family, we hope they can also grow up to be contributing members of society and other families as well.”
Watch the video of the boys preparing meals for their dad:
(Provided by @mamasbrush)
The original article titled “Teen Boys Wake up Before Parents, Make Family’s Breakfast Without Complaint or Being Asked: VIDEO” was published on the English Epoch Times website.