The Duck Who Learned to "Let Go": a Story for your Kids

Once upon a time, there was a young duck born into a warm and harmonious duck family. At the age of six, like all young ducks, he went to school to learn everything he needed to succeed in life. He made some duck friends, but most of the time he preferred to play on his own. He enjoyed the quiet and the space to think. But the other ducklings found this strange. One day, a big duck sneered at him and said, “You’re such a weird duck.” The young duck’s heart sank. He didn’t understand. “What am I doing wrong?” he wondered.

Over the next few days, it only got worse. More and more ducks started calling him names. “Weird duck!” they’d shout as he walked by. After a week, he couldn’t take it anymore. He stopped going to school altogether. His parents were worried and went to school to ask for an explanation. The director and teachers were puzzled — they couldn’t understand why the other ducks were treating him that way. They promised to keep a closer eye on things, and for a while, the young duck felt a bit better. But soon enough, the teasing started again. Feeling lost and helpless, the young duck remembered hearing about an old duck who lived in the mountains. He was known for helping many ducks find their way. So one morning, the young duck set off to find him.

After a long walk, he reached a small wooden house tucked away in the hills. The old duck greeted him warmly and invited him inside. “What brings you here, young one?” the old duck asked, his eyes kind and patient. The young duck hesitated, then shared everything — the teasing, the loneliness, and the sadness that weighed on him. The old duck listened carefully. When the young duck finished, the old duck said, “Life isn’t always fair. Sometimes others will treat you badly, and it will hurt.” The young duck nodded, his eyes filled with tears. “But here’s the thing,” the old duck continued. “You don’t have to let their words control you. You are the master of your own life. Only you decide what you let in. Their words only have power if you give it to them.”

The young duck’s eyes widened.

The old duck smiled and leaned closer. “Let me tell you a secret. Nature gave ducks a special gift. Have you ever noticed what ducks do when they come out of the water?” The young duck thought for a moment. “They shake off the water.” “Exactly!” said the old duck. “From now on, think of those mean words as drops of water. When someone says something cruel, just shake it off — like you would shake off water after swimming. And smile while you’re doing it. That way, their words lose all power over you.” The young duck sat quietly for a moment, letting the old duck’s words sink in. Then a sparkle appeared in his eyes. “I think I can do that,” he said. “I know you can,” the old duck replied with a smile.

The young duck left the house with a sense of lightness he hadn’t felt in weeks. The next day at school, when one of the other ducks called him weird, he smiled to himself, shook his feathers, and walked away. The other ducks were confused at first. But after a while, they stopped teasing him. Some even approached him and asked why he liked being alone. “I need to recharge my energy sometimes,” the young duck explained. “It helps me feel better.” To his surprise, some of the other ducks began to sit quietly with him, and soon, he had real friends — friends who accepted him just as he was.

A few months later, the young duck visited the old duck again. He told him how his life had changed, how shaking off the words had made him stronger. The old duck smiled and said, “I’m proud of you.” Then he reached behind him and handed the young duck a small wooden figure — a duck wearing a graduation cap. “You’ve learned to master yourself,” the old duck said. “And that is the greatest lesson of all.”

The young duck smiled and said, “I’m going to teach others what you taught me.” And that’s exactly what he did. From that day forward, the young duck helped other ducks — and even other animals — to shake off their troubles and take control of their own lives.

He was no longer the "weird duck." He had become a wise and happy duck — living his passion, helping others master their own lives.

Wishing you all a great Master Duck Day.

Alexander Nijs