Couple honored for parenting skills

RBC I Connections 4 Kids, the early childhood council serving Moffat and Rio Blanco counties, is proud to recognize Tanner and Brooke Hankins as its first-ever Awesome Parent Program honorees.
Through the Awesome Parent Program, Connections 4 Kids seeks to recognize terrific parents in area communities for their admirable qualities and to encourage other parents of young children to continually improve their own parenting skills. Connections 4 Kids wants to share stories of parenting successes in everyday life and hopes to create a network of parents who can learn from each other and grow together.
Tanner and Brooke Hankins are the parents of 5-year-old Avrial. Tanner’s mother, Misty Schulze, nominated the couple.
“The road to parenting didn’t start easily for Tanner and Brooke. Both parents were very young when their daughter was conceived, but their ages weren’t the only challenge. Neither parent came from traditional families themselves and had their own struggles prior to becoming parents. Nearly five years later, Brooke and Tanner are successfully raising their daughter.
Their daughter is being raised in an environment where they provide consistent boundaries, praise, support and absolute love. Tanner and Brooke allow Avrial to make choices and have consequences. They put decisions back on her. It has truly made her, even at a really young age, to better think things through. They are good about, “You need to stop and think about this.”
Avrial is being raised with values such as honesty, interdependence, compassion, generosity and fairness. These are the things that provide a foundation of successful parenting.
Is parenting easy? Of course not. Is their daughter always perfectly behaved? No way. Are there challenges that lie ahead? You bet. But by facing those challenges with an open mind and a commitment to family, their daughter will always feel valued and loved.”
About parenting, Brooke Hankins said, “It was a struggle but we made it through. It was worth it. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. We learned to parent as you go. I think every parent does.”
Brooke’s advice to other parents is to “grow with them.”
“Your parenting style has to change with them as they grow up. You have to adapt your parenting style to fit them.”
She praises Tanner for his role, as well. “He’s such a good teacher to her. He’s so patient with her.”
To nominate an awesome parent you know, visit www.Connections4Kids.org. For more information on the Awesome Parent Program, call Connections 4 Kids at 824-8282, ext. 47.