Check out these amazing lyrics, written by Mr. Rogers in 1968. How simple, to the point and totally useful for kids (even 2018 kids). He offers a direct and powerful message to any age: It’s normal to feel angry (even angry enough to punch a bag; especially when one feels maligned), but know there are positive ways to channel this energy (do you round up some friends to play tag?), and know that most importantly, you can “stop” (and stop anytime you wish), when you’ve started to go down the wrong path (to seek revenge or act out). Kids need to know that angry (even revengeful) thoughts are normal and oh so human, but they don’t have to act on them because they are in control of what goes on in their minds and ultimately, how they treat others…
What Do You Do with the Mad that You Feel?
By Fred M. Rogers
© 1968
What do you do with the mad that you feel
When you feel so mad you could bite?
When the whole wide world seems oh, so wrong...
And nothing you do seems very right?
What do you do? Do you punch a bag?
Do you pound some clay or some dough?
Do you round up friends for a game of tag?
Or see how fast you go?
It's great to be able to stop
When you've planned a thing that's wrong,
And be able to do something else instead
And think this song:
I can stop when I want to
Can stop when I wish.
I can stop, stop, stop any time.
And what a good feeling to feel like this
And know that the feeling is really mine.
Know that there's something deep inside
That helps us become what we can.
For a girl can be someday a woman
And a boy can be someday a man.