First, a lesson from Mister Rogers

“Remembering What It Was Like”: Parenting Wisdom from Mister Rogers

In a quiet and profound exchange on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1985, Fred Rogers offered parenting advice that still resonates deeply today.

When Oprah asked him what he believed was the biggest mistake parents make, Mister Rogers replied simply:

“Not to remember their own childhood.”

It’s deceptively simple advice, but it gets to the heart of something many parents feel but can’t always name. As adults, we’re so caught up in the stress of responsibility—schedules, school, discipline, safety—that we forget what it actually felt like to be a child. We forget how confusing, exciting, scary, and intense the world seemed from three feet off the ground.

Oprah echoed this perfectly:

“You really do forget.”

She spoke for every parent who’s ever found themselves repeating the same phrases or reactions they once swore they’d never say. In the moment, it’s so easy to lose touch with the emotional world of childhood.

But Mister Rogers gently reminds us that parenting is not just about guiding children—it’s about growing ourselves.

“These children can help reevoke what it was like,” he said. “And that’s why when you’re parents, you have a new chance to grow.”

This idea is the heartbeat of compassionate parenting. When we slow down and remember what it felt like to be misunderstood, scared, or overwhelmed as a child, we make space for empathy. We soften. We connect.

So maybe the next time your child is melting down, instead of reacting, you pause. You ask yourself, What would I have needed in that moment when I was their age? That act of remembering is not just good parenting—it’s healing, for both you and your child.

As Mister Rogers taught us time and again, it’s never too late to grow. And our children are often the ones leading the way.