My Favorite Child: A Donkey’s Tale of Tidiness (and TikTok Fame)
Every parent has that one child who surprises them—the one who cleans up after themselves, follows the rules, and makes life easier. For me, that child just so happens to be… my donkey. Yes, you read that right. Out of all the chaos-makers on the farm, Henry the donkey has earned the title of “favorite child,” not only for his unexpected tidiness but also for his unexpected stardom on TikTok.
It all started one morning when I noticed something strange in the barn. The hay bales, which usually looked like they’d been attacked by a tornado of goats, were stacked neatly in a corner. My first thought was, Wow, I actually did something right before coffee. But then I watched. And I saw Henry—my shaggy-eared, sassy donkey—using his nose to nudge loose hay into a tidy little pile, as if he were some four-legged Marie Kondo.
At first, I thought it was a fluke. Maybe he was just playing. But day after day, Henry took his self-appointed job as “barn organizer” seriously. He’d push the stray buckets back against the wall, shuffle hay into neat stacks, and even herd the chickens away from scattering feed everywhere. Meanwhile, the goats were still acting like frat boys at a pizza buffet, and the ducks were still convinced mud puddles should be Olympic-sized.
Naturally, I had to share this with the world. One quick TikTok later, and Henry was an internet sensation. The video of him tidying hay to the soundtrack of a cleaning montage racked up views faster than you can say “FarmTok.” People loved him. Comments flooded in:
“Can Henry come clean my room?”
“This donkey has more discipline than my teenagers.”
“Protect Henry at all costs!”
The fame went straight to his fuzzy head. Henry now refuses to perform his chores unless there’s an audience. I tried to sneak a video without the camera, and he just stood there, chewing hay, giving me side-eye like, “Where’s my spotlight?” The moment I hit record? Boom. He was back at it, tidying the barn like a professional organizer.
Of course, not everyone in the barn is thrilled. The goats have been side-eyeing him ever since. One actually knocked over a bucket in protest, only for Henry to calmly push it back upright—on camera, of course, because he never misses his moment. The chickens, on the other hand, seem to appreciate his work, clucking happily as if Henry is their personal janitor.
I can’t even lie—I’ve leaned into it. I made him a little “Barn Manager” name tag, and yes, it makes appearances in his videos. And let me tell you, when your donkey is neater than your kids, it’s hard not to play favorites.
So, who’s my favorite child? Sorry, humans, but Henry wins hands down—or hooves down. He keeps the barn cleaner than any chore chart ever could, he’s now TikTok famous, and he doesn’t even complain (much). Sure, he brays like a diva if I forget his good lighting, but that’s just part of stardom.
At the end of the day, Henry’s tale of tidiness reminds me that sometimes your most unexpected kid is the one who shines brightest. And if that kid happens to have four legs, floppy ears, and a knack for going viral? Even better.
