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Mister Rogers gently shares 'the biggest mistake' parents can make in poignant resurfaced clip

"That's why when you're a parent, you have a new chance to grow."

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Fred Rogers in 1988.

Fred Rogers, as many know, had a sort of magic about him. The way in which he soothed both children and their parents through his empathy, patience, and kindness was unique and rare. For him, imagination knew no bounds, and it was important to let kids truly explore the wondrous snippet of time that you get to be a kid.

In a clip making the rounds on social media, Rogers is being interviewed on Oprah Winfrey's show in 1985. Winfrey asks him, "What do you think the biggest mistake parents make in raising their children?" Rogers breathes in and answers, "Not to remember their own childhood."

He continues, "I think the best thing we can do is to remember what it was like for us and know what our children are going through."

Winfrey reminds him, "But you know it's so hard once you get to be a parent, you always say 'I will never do this' when your mother is doing it to you or your father is doing it to you. And then you get to our age and you forget what it was like to be this size. You really do forget."

Rogers patiently responds, "But those children can help reinvoke what it was like. And that's why when you're a parent, you have a new chance to grow."

This really resonates in the comment sections of the many places this clip is posted. On Positive Life Secrets' Instagram post, one person writes, "I love this man so much. He was a gift to children everywhere."

Mr. Rogers, Fred Rogers, PBS, parenting, kids Mister Rogers exits the room. Giphy GIF by MOODMAN

Another truly takes what he says to heart: "Breaking the cycle of verbal abuse, manipulation, and arguing! I don’t want my kids to go through what I went through. So, I just have to remember what it felt like."

This Instagrammer adds some input: "A lot of parents miss the mark when they think respect doesn’t go both ways. When they shame their child versus building confidence and having understanding and helping them navigate properly. Truth is a lot of people are not right as adults and they are raising people."

This running theme of not forgetting one's childhood is something Rogers discussed often. In a YouTube clip from the early 80s, Rogers sits down with children and their parents and digs deep into where there might be a disconnect. The kids describe their moms and dads, while the parents (at times frustrated) share their vulnerable difficulties setting limits, getting angry, or truly seeing their child's point of view.

- Mr Rogers sits down with families and listens. www.youtube.com

Rogers, as he so often did, listens patiently to the entire family dynamic and reiterates the importance of empathy. He says to the parents, "Often we wonder if we're alone. And I think it's programs like this that help people realize that they're not alone. That there are a lot of people in the world who are struggling with such things as, 'What do I do when my kid just will not listen to something that I know is right for them?'"

A commenter shares, "I really needed this. As a 90’s baby now raising her own kids, it was nice to know Mr. Rogers is still able to teach me. I need to get back to this type of lifestyle and living. Thank you for posting this. It really helped me in a time of need."

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Mister Rogers told kids why they shouldn't be mean to themselves. It's bringing adults to tears.

Grown-ups need this advice just as much as children do.

Public domain

Fred Rogers is sorely missed.

When the world feels dark or difficult, there's one person who can always comfort our inner child and make us believe that things will turn out all right: Fred Rogers.

Generation X and millennials spent many of our formative years watching "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," letting the soothing voice of the gentle host teach us to be better humans. There's nothing bad you can really say about Mr. Rogers, thought some did try to malign him for his focus on emotional intelligence and self-worth. (The horror!) By all accounts, the man was practically a modern-day saint—unfailingly kind, calm, and thoughtful—and the same man off screen as he was on screen. And the lessons he shared still resonate in the hearts of the now grown-up children he spoke to decades ago.

In fact, some lessons speak to us even more profoundly in adulthood than they may have when we were young. A brief clip from "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" has been making the rounds, and hoo boy is it a message people of all ages can use.

"You know, the toughest thing is to love somebody who has done something mean to you," Mr. Rogers said to his audience. "Especially when that somebody has been yourself."

(Might want to have a tissue handy at this point.)

"Have you ever done anything mean to yourself?" he continued. "Well it's very important to look inside yourself and find that loving part of you. That's the part that you must take good care of and never be mean to. Because that's the part of you that allows you to love your neighbor. And your neighbor is anyone you happen to be with at any time of your life."

It's sounds so simple, doesn't it? And yet, so many of us struggle with being kind and loving to ourselves, and in turn, may not be as kind and loving to our neighbor as we want to be. The simplicity of Rogers' messaging is part of what makes it so powerful, though. He cuts through the baggage and the hurt and the stories we tell ourselves and speaks directly to the pure heart deep inside each person.

Fred Rogers, Mister Rogers, Mister Rogers Neighborhood, kidsUnderstand I Hear You GIFGiphy

The comments on the clip are a veritable lovefest for Mr. Rogers. One person even wrote that they can't be cynical when they watch him. How could you?

"Needed this. Easy to beat yourself up and then, without some way of finding an outlet, project to others about your feelings.Mr. Rogers is the GOAT."

"I think part of what made Mister Rogers so special is that he's often speaking to adults as much as he is children. Like he knew there's a good chance adults will be in the room or at least within earshot, and he's speaking to both audiences. I believe it was partly because he spoke to children as if they were adults, but I think at times it was quite deliberate."

"Could not need this more. My job is ending my life is entirely revolving about going east. I couldn't be lower at points. But I get Mr Rogers who just picks me up and says it's going to be okay. And I believe him."

"Mr. Rogers had a way of reminding us that kindness starts within. Sometimes, we just need to hear that it's okay to be human. Absolute GOAT. 🫶"

Mister Rogers, Fred Rogers testifying Fred Rogers advocating for public television programming in front of the Senate. Public domain

"What Mr. Rogers says here is so profound and true. If you are able to give yourself grace, compassion, and self-forgiveness, you are able to pass that on to other people. People who hate 'others' usually hate themselves, only they don't know it."

"I'm not a religious man but if there ever was an angel on earth, he is as close as you can get to being one."

"I cannot convey how much I needed this at this point in my life. I wasn't expecting to bawl my eyes out today but I think I needed it."

"He is so genuine when he talks to the children/us through the camera. You can tell that he means every single word that he’s saying. It’s not made up and it’s not just scripted and something that he’s reading off of a cue card. He just wants what’s best for everybody on the other side of the lens."

"That man is who I've always wanted to be my entire life, I even sport similar sweaters. But he showed me that I didn't need to be anyone but myself, and that's okay."

- YouTubewww.youtube.com

Mister Rogers said goodbye in a final send-off in 2001 with a perfect parting message: "I would like to tell you what I would often tell you when you were much younger. I like you just the way you are. And what's more, I'm so grateful to you for helping the children in your life to know that you'll do everything you can to keep them safe and to help them express their feelings in ways that will bring healing in many different neighborhoods. It's such a good feeling to know that we're lifelong friends."

It's such a good feeling, indeed.


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Compilation of Mr. Rogers' lesser-known shining moments is a masterclass in human kindness

Take 10 minutes to let Fred Rogers' wholesome goodness wash over you (but maybe grab a tissue first).

Eric Stanley/Facebook

Fred Rogers was an example for us all.

History has many heroes, but few human beings have left a direct mark on children's lives like Fred Rogers did. In a time when television had become a staple in American households, prompting fears over its potentially pernicious influence, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood shone like a beacon of wholesome delight.

Fred Rogers' conviction that educational television could make a positive difference in the lives of children has been proven true again and again. Countless people have shared how Mr. Rogers' messages of love and compassion and self-worth influenced them during their formative years, and for many, his presence provided a calm and stability that were missing in their own households.

The emotional and societal topics Mr. Rogers tackled are vast and varied, and it seems there are always more gems of goodness to uncover in the archives. Eric Stanley of "Stay Inspired" shared a compilation of clips from Fred Rogers' life that exemplify his warm, genuine kindness, some of which are unfamiliar even to ardent fans of the show.

The video includes so many examples of what made Fred Rogers so special, from his ability to talk to anyone to his selfless and humble Lifetime Achievement Award speech to how he responded when he felt he'd been too harsh with one of his grandsons. (That story is so beautiful—can you even imagine Mr. Rogers being harsh?) He also shared a conversation with children about a stuffed animal's ear coming off in the washer that exemplified how much better he understood children than most adults do.

"Mr. Rogers was one of those people who impacted multiple generations—young, old—so many people were inspired by Mr. Rogers," said Stanley in the video. "His messages transcend race, gender, how much money you make—it doesn't matter. Everyone was inspired by Mr. Rogers."

Watch and enjoy these prime examples of Fred Rogers' humility and humanity courtesy of Eric Stanley on Facebook:

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Mr. Rogers described meeting Eddie Murphy in 1982 and it showcases his kind confidence

Letterman asked what he thought of Eddie Murphy parodying him on SNL's "Mister Robinson's Neighborhood."

Letterman/YouTube

Mr. Rogers shared his thoughts on Eddie Murphy with David Letterman.

Few people have earned the amount of genuine, wholesome love that Fred Rogers did. Mr. Rogers made an indelible mark on countless children's childhoods with his goodness, and he even managed to maintain his reputation for being genuinely kind and caring until the end of his life and beyond.

It's a rare feat these days, to live a life in the spotlight and not be outed for some kind of scandal. But Mr. Rogers did and we love him all the more for it.

There are countless qualities that made Mr. Rogers who he was, but one clip from a 1982 David Letterman interview showcases his unique combination of kindness and self-assuredness.

In the clip, Letterman chatted with Rogers for a few minutes about his career, then pointed out that there was a performer in the building who had done imitations of Rogers.

"I just met him a little bit ago," Rogers responded, pulling out a Polaroid photo of himself smiling next to comedian Eddie Murphy.

Murphy was a regular cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1980 to 1984 and one of his most popular skits was a parody of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" called "Mister Robinson's Neighborhood."

By Eddie Murphy standards, the skits were fairly clean, but they referenced some hefty topics such as poverty, racism and gentrification while also playing up certain racial and socioeconomic stereotypes. And they weren't always very kid-friendly (as is the case with many SNL skits).

"How do you react to that?" Letterman asked Rogers. "We talked to Andy Rooney about someone doing an impression of him and he didn't seem too keen on it."

Rogers' response was honest but totally classy.

"Well, some of them aren't very funny," he said. Then he seemed to choose his words thoughtfully: "But I think that a lot of them are done with real kindness in their hearts."

Watch:

People in the comments praised Rogers for being exactly who he was during the interview.

"I love that he seems unfazed that some of the audience are not exactly laughing with him... or that Dave would ask him some baiting questions. The man is so comfortable in his own skin that he cares not what others think or say. One of the many reasons he was such a wonderful role model for us kids. A truly wonderful human being." – @OldSaltyBear

"After watching this interview, I just realized what you see on Mr. Roger's Neighborhood is basically him, he wasn't acting or trying to be someone else just for the show, that was him. Fred Rogers was Fred Rogers on and off the show. Such genuineness, it definitely, and exponentially, multiplies the kindness he shows on the show." – @arisketch9247

"Mr Rogers was truly the odd man out. Just a wonderful human being. I was never a fan of Letterman but I think he wanted this interview to go different. I’m not sure the exact intent but Mr Rodgers was just a convicted, sincere and genuine person to want kids to be kids. Even the bad, he wanted them to be true to their feelings and have a safe place to express it. He was the best." – @MurphySullivan

Others shared how much Mr. Rogers meant to them personally:

"I will always appreciate Mr. Rogers because my childhood was one of abuse and violence. Watching an adult talk to me like I mattered and in a calm way was a refuge for me. It may sound corny and dramatic, but it was my reality back in the 80's. He was a blessing and a genuine person." – @jameswhittenburg5299

"That man saved me from my childhood. Abuse surrounded me. There were no good or trustworthy adults I could rely on, but I had Mr. Rogers. I loved him when I was really young, & he taught me things I desperately needed to hear. What a wonderful, wonderful man." – @dshepherd107

"I don't think people realized that Mr. Rogers was actually a foster parent to every child that watched this show. He's still fostering children posthumously. He just had that big of a heart and good spirit. Such a good man. RIP" – @randomsteve7808

It's truly impossible to overstate the impact Fred Rogers had on generations of kids during his lifetime, and thanks to the miracle of television, his legacy continues to inspire and comfort to this day.

(And if you haven't seen "Mister Robinson's Neighborhood," here's a taste:)

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