A Mennonite Family
The structure of most Mennonite families is still built on the Biblical base of one man and one woman married for life and with the purpose of having children.
Plautdietsch Mennonites
Among the Old Colony, Kleine Gemeinde, Old Order and conservative daughter colonies, it is not unusual to have big families and those families usually work together. Children are taught from a very young age to get up early and work on the farm or in the shop, and to work hard. Chores such as milking, gathering eggs, weeding the garden, making cheese, driving the tractor, etc. are done by both boys and girls. However when it comes to chores inside the house, most Plautdietsch men and boys have the mindset that such things are for women. Washing dishes, hanging up laundry, No way! they would be mortified if someone saw them doing women's work. It is an old tradition that boys belong out on the farm or in the shop. Yet, the girls are still expected to do their share of farm work besides their daily household tasks until they marry and leave the home. Perhaps it is surprising for you that there is male preference among many families. It seems unfair but it is their lifestyle. Mealtime prayers are often silent and some families have the practice of holding hands while praying. Family devotions is done among some of the Kleine Gemeinde and non-conservative Mennonite families.
Among the Plautdietsch Mennonites who have modernized, the family structure has become more loose and less visible to the observer yet thankfully it has created a more gender equality atmosphere. This is due to the influence of up-to-date technology, social media, video games, North American preachers and visitors, and social life of the youth. Both boys and girls from modern families go out and work, sometimes out of the country such as Mexico or Canada.
One typical custom in many Plautdietsch groups is that in any gathering, men and women separate; when in public, women walk a little distance behind the men. When purchasing, the men do the talking.
Non-Plautdietsch Mennonites
This means those English-speaking conservative "Swiss" Mennonites such as the Beachy, Holdemans and Conservatives who moved here from the US and Canada as well as their Mestizo and Creole converts. Since they focus more on spiritual doctrines than long-standing traditions, there is more gender equity and less friction between parents and children or vice-versa. Both boys and girls are taught to work hard and to share the work load. Boys are taught that it is their duty to help their mothers inside the house as well as work outside with their fathers which means that many boys learn to cook and do laundry at an early age. Family devotions and personal Bible reading and praying are not only a must, great emphasis is placed on these 2 aspects of their lives and is seen as the central point of family togetherness. Praying out loud for a meal is customary.
Some things held in common by nearly all Mennonite families no matter which branch they're from:
Working together
Eating together at each meal-time
Attending church together
Being thrifty with finances (non-Mennonites accuse them of stinginess)
The older children help to take care of the younger ones
Going on trips together
Family gatherings
Moral values and Biblical principles must be taught to children from babyhood on
Hard physical work
The father is the undisputed head of the home
Family comes first
To miss out on a family gathering is mutual disrespect
Seniors are taken care of by the community or close relatives
After marriage, the wife is expected to quit her salary job (if she had) and work at home
Sons and daughters who work out are expected to hand in all their earnings to their parents until they reach a certain age.
Playing games as a family is not very common but is usually left to the youth boys and girls and to the school-age children.
Plautdietsch Mennonites
Among the Old Colony, Kleine Gemeinde, Old Order and conservative daughter colonies, it is not unusual to have big families and those families usually work together. Children are taught from a very young age to get up early and work on the farm or in the shop, and to work hard. Chores such as milking, gathering eggs, weeding the garden, making cheese, driving the tractor, etc. are done by both boys and girls. However when it comes to chores inside the house, most Plautdietsch men and boys have the mindset that such things are for women. Washing dishes, hanging up laundry, No way! they would be mortified if someone saw them doing women's work. It is an old tradition that boys belong out on the farm or in the shop. Yet, the girls are still expected to do their share of farm work besides their daily household tasks until they marry and leave the home. Perhaps it is surprising for you that there is male preference among many families. It seems unfair but it is their lifestyle. Mealtime prayers are often silent and some families have the practice of holding hands while praying. Family devotions is done among some of the Kleine Gemeinde and non-conservative Mennonite families.
Among the Plautdietsch Mennonites who have modernized, the family structure has become more loose and less visible to the observer yet thankfully it has created a more gender equality atmosphere. This is due to the influence of up-to-date technology, social media, video games, North American preachers and visitors, and social life of the youth. Both boys and girls from modern families go out and work, sometimes out of the country such as Mexico or Canada.
One typical custom in many Plautdietsch groups is that in any gathering, men and women separate; when in public, women walk a little distance behind the men. When purchasing, the men do the talking.
Non-Plautdietsch Mennonites
This means those English-speaking conservative "Swiss" Mennonites such as the Beachy, Holdemans and Conservatives who moved here from the US and Canada as well as their Mestizo and Creole converts. Since they focus more on spiritual doctrines than long-standing traditions, there is more gender equity and less friction between parents and children or vice-versa. Both boys and girls are taught to work hard and to share the work load. Boys are taught that it is their duty to help their mothers inside the house as well as work outside with their fathers which means that many boys learn to cook and do laundry at an early age. Family devotions and personal Bible reading and praying are not only a must, great emphasis is placed on these 2 aspects of their lives and is seen as the central point of family togetherness. Praying out loud for a meal is customary.
Some things held in common by nearly all Mennonite families no matter which branch they're from:
Working together
Eating together at each meal-time
Attending church together
Being thrifty with finances (non-Mennonites accuse them of stinginess)
The older children help to take care of the younger ones
Going on trips together
Family gatherings
Moral values and Biblical principles must be taught to children from babyhood on
Hard physical work
The father is the undisputed head of the home
Family comes first
To miss out on a family gathering is mutual disrespect
Seniors are taken care of by the community or close relatives
After marriage, the wife is expected to quit her salary job (if she had) and work at home
Sons and daughters who work out are expected to hand in all their earnings to their parents until they reach a certain age.
Playing games as a family is not very common but is usually left to the youth boys and girls and to the school-age children.
