Together Is What Matters Most - A Children's Story

Together Is What Matters Most

By Bill Conley
America’s Favorite Children’s Storyteller

Moral to the Story:
The most precious gift we can give one another is our time.
It doesn't matter where we go, what we eat, or what we do.
What makes it special is doing it side by side with those we love.
Togetherness builds memories, laughter, and a feeling of home.
You can be anywhere, doing anything—but when you're with family, you're rich.
Life isn't about the things we have—it's about the moments we share.
So turn off the screens, slow down, and just be together.
Because love grows in the time we spend, not the stuff we buy.

In a cozy little town, not too far from the woods and just close enough to the sea, lived a family of otters known as the Tumbles. There was Papa Tumble, Mama Tumble, and their three little ones—Ollie, Olive, and Otto.

They didn’t live in a big house or own fancy things, but they had something better—they had each other.

One sunny morning, Papa Tumble stretched and yawned. “What should we do today?” he asked.

“Should we go to the beach?” Mama suggested.

“Or paddle down the stream?” Ollie piped up.

“Maybe play tag in the forest!” Olive cheered.

“I just wanna eat pancakes,” Otto mumbled, already licking his whiskers.

Papa Tumble chuckled and said, “It doesn’t really matter what we do… as long as we do it together.”

That became the Tumble family motto. Together is what matters most.

So off they went on a brand-new day—not to do something big or expensive—but just to be side by side.

First, they made pancakes. Everyone helped. Papa flipped, Mama mixed, and the kids dropped in blueberries. Otto got flour on his nose and Olive laughed so hard she fell off her chair.

“Best breakfast ever,” said Ollie with a mouthful of syrup.

Next, they went on a walk. Not to any special place—just around their meadow.

They looked for heart-shaped rocks and spotted clouds shaped like bunnies and bananas.

“I love it when we all walk together,” said Olive, holding her mama’s paw.

Then they stopped under a tree, and Papa said, “Let’s just sit.”

“Sit and do what?” Otto asked.

“Just sit.”

So they did.

And guess what? They heard birds singing, wind rustling the leaves, and even the giggles of nearby chipmunks.

They talked. They listened. They breathed in the beauty of just being near one another.

Later that day, a squirrel family zoomed past them—skateboards, scooters, and all.

“Where are you off to?” asked Papa Tumble.

“We’re going to the new nut-factory exhibit!” shouted Mr. Squirrel. “It costs a fortune and the line is a mile long, but hey—gotta impress the kids!”

The Tumble kids looked up at their parents and smiled. They didn’t need lines or factories.

They had each other.

Back at home, Mama Tumble pulled out a worn puzzle with one piece missing.

“I love this puzzle!” said Olive.

“But it’s old,” said Otto. “Shouldn’t we get a new one?”

Papa smiled. “Why would we? Every time we do this puzzle together, we tell stories, laugh, and make memories.”

So they did the puzzle. They didn’t even mind the missing piece.

Instead, they made up a story about where it went—it had run away to start a puzzle-piece band!

That night, while brushing their tiny teeth and fluffing their pillows, Ollie asked, “Papa, is it okay that we didn’t go anywhere fancy today?”

Papa tucked him in close. “It’s more than okay, son. What we did today was priceless.”

Mama added, “You can always buy a toy or a treat, but you can’t buy time. And today, we spent our time together. That’s the treasure.”

And so, the Tumble family went to sleep with full bellies, happy hearts, and tired paws.

They had no tickets, no souvenirs, no pictures for the scrapbook.

But they had a day filled with pancakes, puzzles, and peaceful walks… and most importantly, they had each other.

Poem to the Story:
It doesn’t take treasure or castles or gold,
To make special memories that never grow old.
It just takes time, a heart full of care,
And the joy of knowing your family is there.
So don’t wait for perfect—just start where you are,
Together is magic, no matter how far.

Thought-Provoking Questions for Parents and Children:

1.     What is your favorite memory of something simple we’ve done together as a family?

2.     Why do you think time spent together is more important than toys or money?

3.     What’s something we could do this week as a family that doesn’t cost anything, but brings us closer?