I never thought that I would actually binge-watch Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. I was having one of those moments where I needed some mindless activity. When the television comes on in my house, my children’s eyes are glued to it so I decided to watch a show that they can enjoy and that I can ignore. It was to my surprise, my eyes were glued to the T.V. as well.
Even though Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is geared towards younger children, I found myself not only enjoying the simplicity and intentionality of the show, but I was being reminded of some basic life lessons as well. I was reminded of quite a few life lessons. Here are just a few of those lessons from Mr. Roger’s creation.
When you’re sick, rest is best. Rest is best. I put a lot of pressure on myself as a stay at home mother. Pressure to perform, succeed, be available, and so much more. Even when I am sick, I still feel “obligated” to do or be on the go. Whether it is laundry or a playdate, I feel that I need to always be moving, even though I know the importance of listening to my body. I now have a little tune to remind me of the necessary R&R that I need to function better. My daughters are also starting to respect rest so much more.
Friends help each other. Yes, they do. It’s true. It only took a few weeks into being a stay at home mom for me to realize that I could not do this without a community. I needed other moms like me to encourage, to listen, and to have mommy playdates. Mothering, in my opinion, requires a team of other ladies who I can look to for advice or to vent. Some of my community includes my online groups, and I have a community that I see a few times a month. My mom squad is a necessity. They are my coffee, my energy drink, my cup of tea, or my glass of wine. We work together to ensure that we are all surviving motherhood.
When something seems bad turn it around and find something good. The morning that my children and I took to the sofa to watch Daniel Tiger had been an eventful one. The kids woke early, I had little rest due to our newborn, a part of breakfast ended up on the floor, and my husband had an evening event which meant bedtime for me was going to be closer to the midnight hour. When my husband asked about the day, I was able to tell him that the best part of that day was the time on the sofa. I was able to regroup, my girls were cooperating, and our new addition took a nap. A huge part of me wanted to release the day on him, yet I chose to find the good instead.
Some of my other favorite lessons include:
- If you cannot do it alone, work together.
- Keep trying, you’ll get better.
- Close your eyes and think of something happy.
- When you feel so mad that you want to roar, take a deep breath, and count to four.
- In some ways we are different, but in so many ways, we are the same.
- When you feel jealous, talk about it, and we’ll figure something out.
- It’s OK to feel sad sometimes. Little by little, you’ll feel better again
- Stop and listen to stay safe.
- You can be a big helper in your family.
- You gotta try new food because it might taste good.
- Before you take something away, you have to ask if it’s okay.
Daniel Tiger’s lessons are timeless, practical, and not just for children. As an adult, as a mother, I find myself singing these tunes in various situations. It is quite funny when a song pops into my head, and I realize that I am learning from a show for my preschooler. If you have a preschooler and aren’t familiar with Daniel Tiger, give it a try, you may find that you enjoy it.
