“Deep and simple is far more essential than shallow and complex.”
-Fred McFeely Rogers
Hello and happy Thursday!
The flooring we’re installing this week is looking GREAT and I’m looking forward to sharing some photos of it in tomorrow’s blog post. Isn’t it fun to have new floors? Even Steevenson is excited. 🙂
In the meantime, have you heard about the new Mister Rogers documentary that’s out? It’s called Won’t You Be My Neighbor? Here’s the trailer if you haven’t already seen it:
I can remember watching Mister Rogers’ show as a child in the 70s, but I guess I was too young to understand and appreciate how passionate he was about helping kids cope with challenging or everyday situations and emotions. It was fun to “get to know him” by doing some online research today. I loved reading that he wanted everyone he encountered to know that they mattered and that it was the substance of a person that was so important to him. He lived in the belief that, as the book The Little Prince teaches, everything essential in a person is invisible to the eye.
Another neat thing I learned about him recently is that he wrote all the songs, all of the scripts, and he did almost all of the puppetry and puppet voices on the show.
I also watched some videos about him and gosh was I moved by this moment, when he appeared before the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee to request funds to help support the growth of national public television- a new concept at the time:
I was deeply touched by the sentiments he shared in this moment that he shared shortly after 9-11:
Here are some of my favorite quotes came across while learning more about him too:
“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.”
“I could really cry through the tips of my fingers when I was a kid.” – Fred Rogers, on playing the piano when he felt sad as a child.
“I’ve always thought of myself as a neighbor, an uncle that came to visit, and that just said, “hey, let’s spend a half an hour together. I accept you exactly as you are. Let’s just have some time together.”
“I guess that’s the best thing about “things”. They remind you of people.” – Mister Rogers, on the sweaters his mom hand-knit for him to wear on the show.
I’d love to hear about your memories of Mister Rogers if you feel like sharing in the comment section below!
Layla
PS- I was excited to hear that Tom Hanks will play Mr. Rogers in a movie that will be released sometime late next year. It’s titled, “You Are My Friend” and the plot will focus, in part, on the real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and journalist Tom Junod, who will be portrayed by Matthew Rhys. In a nutshell, the cynical journalist reluctantly takes an assignment to write a profile story about the cherished TV icon, and in the process, Junod’s perspective on life is changed forever.
Layla, I’ve seen the documentary twice now and could go back once more. Mister Rogers also dealt with issues of race discrimination, divorce and death. In my work of speaking to the medical community about how to be more effective communicators Mister Rogers is a great role model. He spoke to everyone with respect and wanting to understand their point of view. There’s so much we can all learn from Mr. Rogers. If you haven’t seen the documentary — go! Thanks for bringing him to our attention . . . again!
I watched Mr. Rogers in the 1970’s when it was on TV but I don’t think I realized how incredible he was until I had my own kids. As moms do, I started doing research into the effect of television on kids and the only TV show that “experts” recommended was Mr. Rogers. So my now grown kids would watch solely that so I have seen all the episodes. The world didn’t know what a jewel they had when he was alive.
Hi Layla,
My husband and youngest daughter (age 37) saw WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR a couple of weeks ago, and when it was over the audience gave it a standing ovation. I’ve never seen that before in a movie theater. I also don’t believe there was a dry eye in the house. Mr. Rogers was such a kind man, and he did so much in teaching us how to talk to children, and more importantly, how to listen to what children are saying. In this world where simply kindness toward one another seems lost, I often think about my favorite quote from Mr. Rogers, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helper. You will always find people who are helping.'” We all need to think about that and strive to be the best helpers we can be.
I have seen the documentary once and want to see it again. It is wonderful!
As a kindergarten teacher I believe Mr. Rogers was a man way ahead of his time. He understood what childhood should be about and could express his feelings and thoughts so clearly. If we would listen and apply what he says about children the world would be a better, calmer, happier place.
We saw the movie Saturday night and it brought back many memories of watching his show with my daughter. She was with me at the movies and it brought many tears.
Mister Rogers was a big part of my childhood as a kid growing up in the 70’s. His soft voice and even tone gave me comfort on more than one occasion. My father was killed in a horrible car/train accident in 1975 and as the youngest, and only child still at home, I felt very alone and confused about what had happened. Back then adults didn’t really consider the feelings of children in situations like that. They were so wrapped up in their own grief that they forgot we were suffering too. Mister Rogers had programs on grief and I happened to watch one. It really helped me not feel so alone in feeling sad and afraid and confused. I had convinced myself in my child-like mind tha tmy father was not actually dead. I was convinced he had merely gone on a very long trip and wasn’t coming back home for a very long time. To other adults this way of thinking was ridiculous and fantasy. But for me, it was coping. Mister Rogers talked about that a little in his program. Once I heard this man who I trusted like a parent affirm that what I was doing was okay, I was okay. How can you give back to a man you have never met before who gave you this sort of peace? Well, you can’t. That is, you can’t until you become a parent yourself. I did just what he commented on in the video not long after 9/11. I became a parent who taught my own kids that I would do anything to keep them safe. Both my kids knew about what happened to my father and how it changed my life and changed me. They also knew that I would do anything in my power to keep them safe and to validate their feelings of loss and sadness. I owe that understanding to Mister Rogers. God bless him and the man he was and always will be to me and countless other children out there who were lucky enough to be touched by his words, his character, and his show. Thank you for sharing about him today. He is a wonderful memory of my childhood.
What a wonderful tribute to such a kind soul. Thank you for sharing this. God bless Mister Rogers.
Karen ~ What a gift God granted you through this kind man. Thank you for sharing such a personal and precious story. May the Lord grant you abundant grace as you seek to raise your children with the same spirit of love and attention to their real selves. While my childhood was much different, it was still such a comfort and calming half hour. In a world in which every activity seems to attempt to out-sensationalize the previous one, teaching children to quietly listen and be listened to is a gift which ought not be overlooked. Thanks for sharing, Layla.
The documentary is EXCEPTIONAL. It takes me back to my early classes in education, when Fred Rogers’ show was quoted and discussed and analyzed OFTEN. The documentary brings me back to the simple days of raising my two precious children who are well into adulthood now. I am looking forward to the new movie!
I saw the documentary this past weekend and it was absolutely wonderful. What a truly kind & caring human he was. He was a light that chose to shine a light. We need more people like him in the world.
I teach preschool and have his quote about “play being the work of childhood’ posted on my classroom door for all my incoming parents to see. Seeing those images of his show brings me right back to my childhood and brings a smile to my face.
Go see it! Be reminded of what an exceptional man he was. I watched his program with my own young boys in the late 70’s early 80’s. I took to heart many of his examples of interacting with children. I used them in my teaching… I just recently retired. A teacher friend and I just went to see the documentary last night. GO SEE IT!
Layla, I was a young mom in the 70’s, and I watched Mr. Rogers everyday with my four littles. Now, I sing his songs with my grandchildren. I taught Kindergarten for years and Mr. Rogers was/is my role model. The documentary was grest, and I am looking forwaed to the Tom Hanks movie next year. I strongly believe his philosophy and simple message of love held true then and now. Rosemary.
My goodness. Mr. Rogers was one of my very first friends and I’ve given up trying not to cry when I watch a video of him. But that Congress testimony was something else. You can feel it the exact moment the senator’s heart opens, and after that he’s just another of Mr. Rogers’ friends. ❤️ I live in Sweden now so I’m not sure if I’ll be able to see the documentary but I sure hope I can!
I work in the field of Early Childhood Development and Fred Rogers is such a pioneer in my field. I spent a large amount of time in my career researching and training others on his approach of using respectful speech when addressing children. I have so much admiration for his message. He was kindness at his core, but he was also steadfast and unwavering in his beliefs that everyone deserves a seat at the table. There is so much we can all learn from him and I feel like the light being shed on his work couldn’t have come at a better time.
Saw this movie and HIGHLY recommend it! As a teacher, I see the impact that adults can have on molding children, making them feel loved and secure and modeling for them how to handle conflict and love each other. He was an amazing man, my heart weeps that he is no longer have him on this earth. He has left a legacy that we ALL need to run with and teach the next generation! ❤️
I like to think my two boys character was forever changed and influenced by watching Mr Rogers every morning from 1979– until, well, they still watch with their children through his current show on PBS Daniel Tiger. I cannot wait to see the movie of his life!
Saw the movie with my husband the other night and was so moved by it. Being 48, I watched him often as a child but did not fully appreciate what a wonderful human being he was! It was a great reminder to myself to try to live each day with love and kindness in my heart. I’ll definitely be seeing it again, next time with my 22 year old daughter!
I have always LOVED Mr. Rogers….the world is a better place because of him. We need more voices like his….