Mr Rogers' Sweater Addiction

A group I am a part of has a theme to talk about each month, and this month was Urban Myths and Legends. Anytime there was a post about Mr Rogers, the group would catch many people off guard - all of them forgetting that the theme of the discussion was myths! The most popular one was that Mr Rogers was a Navy Seal and wore his trademark long sleeves and sweaters to cover his arms full of tattoos. He wasn’t, as we know, but so many people posted that they learned something new whenever it was posted- and we’d have to correct them, again. As the group discussed his trademark sweaters, I realized I had internalized one of his habits: I change clothes as soon as I come home. More than just separating work (and school) clothes from everyday clothes, I actually use the act of changing to draw a line in my day. I literally try to throw the day time stuff in my brain in the clothes hamper too. In many ways, I picked that up from Mr Rogers changing from his suit coat into his sweater, and his dress shoes into sneakers. I didn’t realize it until I learned Mr Rogers “was a Navy Seal who needed to cover his tattoo addiction.” Ha!

Do you find yourself having picked up on any Mr Rogers’ Neighborhood habits without really thinking about it? Do you sing while changing your shoes? Do you say out loud you’re going to feed the fish while sprinkling in the food? Let us know in the comments! (Or, do you have another Mr Rogers myth you find as funny as Navy Seal Fred?)