By Bill Conley
America’s Favorite Children’s Storyteller
Moral to the Story:
A happy home is built on teamwork and shared responsibility.
Saying "That's not mine!" doesn’t make the mess go away.
We all live here, so we all help make things tidy and right.
It’s not about who did it—it’s about what needs to be done.
Doing your part, even when it’s not your fault, shows maturity and love.
Families grow stronger when everyone chooses to help without being told.
In a cozy little house on Maple Tree
Lane lived the Tibbles family: Mom, Dad, and their three children—Charlie,
Lily, and Max. The house was warm and filled with laughter, but lately, it had
also been filled with something else—mess.
Shoes were kicked off in the
entryway, toys were scattered across the living room like a tiny tornado had
passed through, dishes sat in the sink like they were on vacation, and crumbs
made a trail from the kitchen to the couch.
One Saturday morning, Mom walked
into the living room, stepped on a toy block, and winced. “Ouch! Whose block is
this?” she asked, rubbing her foot.
“That’s not mine!” Charlie called
from the couch without looking up from his book.
“Not mine either!” Lily shouted from
the stairs.
Max peeked out from behind the
curtain and shrugged. “I don’t even play with blocks anymore.”
Mom sighed and picked it up herself.
A few minutes later, she found a plate with crusty crumbs still sitting on the
counter. “Who left this plate here?” she asked.
“That’s not mine,” Charlie said
again.
“Wasn’t me,” said Lily.
“I didn’t even eat toast,” Max added.
Dad walked in, looked around at the
clutter, and shook his head. “Alright, everyone, family meeting in the living
room. Now.”
The three kids sat on the couch as
their parents stood in front of them.
“We need to talk,” Mom said. “Our
house is becoming a mess, and every time we ask for help, we hear the same
thing—‘That’s not mine.’”
Dad nodded. “But the truth is, this
isn’t just your house or our house—it’s our home,
together. And when something is out of place, it’s everyone’s job to help, not
just the person who made the mess.”
Charlie crossed his arms. “But why
should I clean up something I didn’t even do?”
Lily nodded. “Yeah, it doesn’t seem
fair.”
Mom sat down beside them. “Fair
doesn’t always mean ‘even.’ It means doing what’s right. If you see trash on
the floor at school, do you leave it just because it’s not yours?”
Max shook his head slowly. “No… I
guess not.”
Dad smiled. “Right. We help because
we care—not just because we caused the mess. That’s what families do.”
From that day on, something started
to change in the Tibbles home.
When Lily saw socks in the hallway,
she picked them up and put them in the laundry basket—even if they were
Max’s.
When Max saw empty cups on the
counter, he rinsed them and loaded them in the dishwasher—even if they
weren’t his.
And when Charlie found puzzle pieces
under the coffee table, he gathered them and put them in the box—even though
he hadn’t played with them in weeks.
Soon, the house felt brighter and
cozier. It wasn’t just tidy—it was filled with kindness. Helping out became a
way of showing love.
One evening, Mom walked into the
clean living room, smiled, and said, “Thank you, team. This place feels like
home again.”
Charlie grinned. “Even if it’s not
mine, I still want to help.”
“Me too,” said Lily.
“Yeah,” said Max, “we all live here, after all.”
And from then on, whenever something
was left out or needed cleaning, no one waited to be told. They just pitched
in—because in the Tibbles house, the words “That’s not mine!” had been replaced
with something much better:
“I’ve got it!”
Poem to the Story:
When something’s left out and no one will claim,
Don’t point a finger, don’t look to blame.
Just lend a hand, do your part each day,
Help keep your home tidy in every way.
It’s not about “me,” it’s about “we”
Together we live, so together we’ll be.
Three Questions to Talk About the
Story:
1.
Why do you think it's important to
help clean up even if the mess isn’t yours?
2.
How does it feel when someone helps
you without being asked?
3.
What are three things you can do
this week to be a better helper in your home?
Would you like a book cover
illustration for this story?
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