The Father, The Son, and The Donkey – Moral Story for Kids

Once upon a time, a Father and his Son were taking their Donkey to the market to sell it. They walked along the road, leading the Donkey behind them.

Soon, they passed a group of girls washing clothes by a stream. One of the girls laughed and said, “Look at those fools! They are walking when they could be riding the Donkey!”

The Father thought this made sense, so he lifted his Son onto the Donkey’s back, and they continued on their way.

A little further down the road, they passed a group of old men sitting by the village gate. “For shame!” shook one of the old men at the Son. “Look at that lazy boy, riding while his poor old Father walks!”

The Son, feeling ashamed, climbed down and insisted that his Father ride instead. So the Father mounted the Donkey, and the Son walked alongside.

They hadn’t gone far when they met a woman and her child. “How cruel!” she cried. “That strong man is riding comfortably while his poor little boy struggles to keep up!”

The Father, confused and trying to do the right thing, pulled his Son up to sit behind him. Now both of them were riding the Donkey.

Near the market, a farmer called to them, “That poor animal must be tired from carrying two people. You should be carrying him!”

The Father and Son stopped. They had followed every opinion they heard, and each new opinion had made them forget their own good sense.

The Father climbed down. He checked the Donkey’s back, offered him water, and loosened the rope around his neck. The Donkey flicked his ears and stood calmly beside them.

“We know our Donkey, our journey, and how far we have walked,” the Father said. “We can listen politely without changing our plan every time someone speaks.”

The Son nodded. They led the Donkey the rest of the way, giving him a rest beneath a shady tree before they reached the market. When another traveler offered an opinion, the Father and Son thanked him, considered it, and then made their own careful choice.

Moral of the Story: Listen to advice, but think carefully and choose what makes sense instead of trying to please everyone.

Keep exploring

Find more stories about thinking before you act and browse the complete Aesop’s fables collection.