More Words of Wisdom from Mr. Rogers

"The child is in me still and sometimes not so still."
–Fred Rogers

MORE WORDS OF WISDOM FROM MR. ROGERS

Many readers shared your sadness at our loss of Fred Rogers in reaction to our quotes from him in the February 28 edition of ExchangeEveryDay.  Several readers from outside the USA asked who Fred Rogers was. For many generations of Americans Fred Rogers was a personal friend, someone we spent hours of our childhoods with. For over 30 years he hosted a children's television show called "Mr. Roger's Neighborhood." We all watched it and our children all watched it. Mr. Rogers was known for his gentle nature and his words of wisdom for children. For more details on Fred Rogers' life go to:

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/28/obituaries/28ROGE.html

Paula Jorde Bloom and Chip Donohue have shared a few more of his words of wisdom:

"Those of us who are in this world to educate - to care for - young children have a special calling: a calling that has very little to do with the collection of expensive possessions but has a lot to do with the worth inside of hearts and heads. In fact, that's our domain: the heads and hearts of the next generation, the thoughts and feelings of the future."

"I feel the greatest gift we can give to anybody is the gift of our honest self."

"What a difference you make, you who serve children and their families so directly! And they're so well served when they can come to believe that there isn't anything in their lives that can't be expressed in words or play or craft or whatever healthy way they happen to choose - Such a gift will last them all of their days."

"Strengthen a parent...and you strengthen a child.".

"Of course, I get angry. Of course, I get sad. I have a full range of emotions. I also have a whole smorgasbord of ways of dealing with my feelings. That is what we should give children. Give them...ways to express their rage without hurting themselves or someone else. That's what the world needs."

"We all got to be who we are today with the help of many other people. Nobody can successfully manage in the world without the investment of others."

"I recently learned that in an average lifetime a person walks about sixty-five thousand miles. 'That's two and a half times around the world. I wonder where your steps will take you. I wonder how you'll use the rest of the miles you're given."

"My hunch is that if we allow ourselves to give who we really are to the children in our care, we will some way inspire cartwheels in their hearts."

"We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It is easy to say 'It's not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.' Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes."
 

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