Yesterday, Fred Rogers would have turned 86 years old. I have yet to view a person who showed such compassion and love for children as he did. This soft-spoken man guided and helped many children and adults through the comfort of their living rooms. We learned about feelings, about science, and about playing. We also learned that a good cardigan is the perfect attire to relax in.
After Sandy Hook, his words rang out again, to comfort us...a quote from Mr. Rogers, some 10 years after his death, gave us a way to explain to our children about that tragedy:
"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.' To this day, especially in times of 'disaster,' I remember my mother's words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers--so many caring people in this world."
There is a new generation of children Mr. Rogers is beginning to touch. "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood" began airing in 2012 on PBS. It features the characters Fred Rogers created (and voiced) in the Land of Make Believe. The red trolley plays an important role and in the Neill house, you can find Khloe singing the theme song, as well as playing with her own red trolley. It warms my heart to know that she has been touched by his work, so many years after her Mommy was.
If you need a little inspiration, here are some great words of wisdom from Fred Rogers:
http://mashable.com/2013/12/26/mister-rogers-quotes/
http://mentalfloss.com/article/31936/20-gentle-quotations-mister-rogers
And I will end with this:
