Look For the Helpers

Photo Credit: The Huffington Post

Yesterday I caught part of Kathie Lee and Hoda on the Today Show while on the treadmill at the gym.

I love their show, and yesterday I found their comments on the Boston tragedy to be particularly helpful.

As a new mother looking forward to welcoming my son into the world this July, I've started tuning in more to the child talk all around me.

Kathie Lee mentioned her long-standing friendship with the late Mr. Rogers, and she shared this piece of his advice:

"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.'"

What a beautiful, empowering perspective for children, and for ourselves.

And it's so very true.

We cannot protect our children or ourselves from awful events out of our control, but we can teach and empower them to "always look for the helpers."

To teach them, literally, where to turn and how to find the lifelines of resiliency and hope in a sometimes dark and frightening world.

I hope to teach my son to think this way.