By Bill Conley
Moral
of the Story:
Your mom and dad are not your maids,
butlers, or your personal cleanup crew. You are strong, capable, and perfectly
able to do things for yourself and to help out around the house. Helping shows
respect, appreciation, and teamwork. When you pitch in, you grow up kinder,
more responsible, and more prepared for the world ahead.
In a cozy little cottage near Clover
Pond lived a goose named Gracie.
Gracie was cheerful, talkative, and
full of silly jokes—but there was one thing she wasn’t very good at:
Helping around the house.
If she finished a snack, she left
the wrapper on the table.
If she spilled juice, she stepped
around it.
And if her mom or dad asked her to
help fold towels, put away toys, or carry her plate to the sink, she always
said—
“Why can’t you do it?”
“I don’t feel like it!”
“That’s your job, not mine!”
One morning, Gracie’s mom was
sweeping the porch, fixing breakfast, and folding laundry—all at the same time.
Her dad was cleaning the coop,
filling the birdfeeder, and loading the wagon.
Gracie, meanwhile, was lounging on a
pillow, tossing crumbs on the floor from her toast.
“Gracie,” her mom said kindly, “can
you take your plate to the sink, please?”
“I’m busy relaxing,” Gracie replied,
stretching her wings.
Her mom paused. “Gracie, sweetheart,
we are not your maids or your butlers.”
Her dad walked in and added, “Or
your garbage can.”
Gracie blinked. “What do you mean?”
“It means,” Mom said gently, “you’re
part of this family—and that means you help.”
“But I don’t know how to do
everything!” Gracie whined.
“You don’t have to do everything,”
Dad said. “Just start with your own stuff. And when you see we need help,
offer.”
Gracie waddled to her room, arms
folded.
She looked around.
Her bed was unmade, clothes were on
the floor, snack wrappers sat on her dresser, and a crumpled tissue poked out
from under her pillow.
“Hmm…” she muttered.
She picked up a wrapper, then
another.
She smoothed her blanket, fluffed
her pillow, and put her toys back on the shelf.
The room felt bigger, neater,
lighter.
“I can do things for myself,”
she said softly.
Later that day, she brought her dish
to the sink without being asked.
“Thanks, Gracie!” her mom said,
smiling with surprise.
That afternoon, she held the door
open when her dad’s wings were full of groceries.
“Appreciate it,” Dad said. “That’s a
big help.”
The next morning, Gracie even
offered to help make pancakes.
Her mom let her stir the batter and
pour the mix. “You’re really growing up,” Mom said with pride.
That evening, Gracie sat on the
porch with her parents.
“I think I get it now,” she said.
“When I help, everything feels better.”
Her dad nodded. “Helping shows you
care. It’s not about doing chores—it’s about being part of a team.”
Gracie puffed her chest proudly.
“Well, this goose is part of the team!”
From that day on, Gracie picked up
after herself, helped with dishes, folded napkins, and even wiped up little
spills without being told.
And when her little brother tried to
toss his crust on the floor, Gracie flapped her wings and said, “Hey! Mom’s not
your maid!”
Everyone laughed.
Gracie wasn’t perfect. Sometimes she
still needed reminders.
But now she tried—because she
understood.
Helping out didn’t make her tired—it
made her proud.
Moral
Poem to End the Story:
Your mom’s not your maid, your dad’s
not your butler,
Don’t toss your mess to be cleaned by another.
You’re strong, you’re smart, and you’re able too—
So lend a hand in all you do!
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