--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the day ever came when we were able to…" description: "\"If the day ever came when we were able to accept ourselves and our children exactly as we and they are, then, I believe, we would have come very close ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a6/fred-rogers-1272_believe_if-the-day-ever-came-when-we-were-able-t_1268373.png" --- # If the day ever came when we were able to accept ourselves… ![“If the day ever came when we were able to accept ourselves and our children exactly as we and they are, then, I believe, we would have come very close to an ultimate understanding of what 'good' parenting means.” quote by Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a6/fred-rogers-1272_believe_if-the-day-ever-came-when-we-were-able-t_1268373.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a6/fred-rogers-1272_believe_if-the-day-ever-came-when-we-were-able-t_1268373.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a6/fred-rogers-1272_believe_if-the-day-ever-came-when-we-were-able-t_1268373.png) > “If the day ever came when we were able to accept ourselves and our children exactly as we and they are, then, I believe, we would have come very close to an ultimate understanding of what 'good' parenting means.” [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Accepting ourselves and our children fully leads to deep understanding of good parenting **In simple terms:** Love and acceptance are core to true parenting Key Takeaway Embrace unconditional acceptance in family life Themes parenting acceptance self‑compassion family dynamics Mood warm encouraging Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - family counseling - parent‑child workshops - personal reflection Key Concepts unconditional love emotional intelligence role modeling Questions to Reflect On - What barriers stop you from fully accepting yourself? - How can you model acceptance for your children? A Different Perspective Self‑acceptance can be challenging without support ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accept Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accept-children-1074941/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-parenting/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parenting Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting-means-4056523/) [Ultimate Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimate-understanding-4056524/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Understanding Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding-good-289939/) ## Related quotes > [It's a tale that I believe ultimately speaks of good parenting and what it means to honor one's parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-fraser/it-s-a-tale-that-i-believe-ultimately-speaks-of-good-parenting-and/) [Brendan Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-fraser/) > [Parenting means, being there, as a parent, setting an example for how you would want them to live...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/parenting-means-being-there-as-a-parent-setting-an-example-for-how/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [That's a powerful way to love, when you accept your children, however they emerge, with all their peculiarities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-soetoro-ng/that-s-a-powerful-way-to-love-when-you-accept-your-children-however/) [Maya Soetoro-Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-soetoro-ng/) > [Though children can accept adults as adults, adults can never accept children as anything but adults too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/though-children-can-accept-adults-as-adults-adults-can-never-accept/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [Somebody close to me once said, 'Oh, no man will ever accept your children.' And I just thought it was the most horrifying thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reese-witherspoon/somebody-close-to-me-once-said-oh-no-man-will-ever-accept-your/) [Reese Witherspoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reese-witherspoon/) > [Accept the children the way we accept trees—with gratitude, because they are a blessing—but do not have expectations or desires. You don’t expect trees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/accept-the-children-the-way-we-accept-trees-with-gratitude-because/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [I've learned to accept that I'm a children's writer, even if it's not what I set out to become. It's what I should have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-kinney/i-ve-learned-to-accept-that-i-m-a-children-s-writer-even-if-it-s-not/) [Jeff Kinney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-kinney/) > [It takes a man to accept someone else's children and step up to the plate another man left on the table...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-a-man-to-accept-someone-else-s-children-and-step-up-to-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you truly accept that those children in some far off place in the global village have the same value as you in God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bono/when-you-truly-accept-that-those-children-in-some-far-off-place-in/) [Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bono/) > [Truth is the object of our understanding, as good is of our will; and the understanding can no more be delighted with a lie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/truth-is-the-object-of-our-understanding-as-good-is-of-our-will-and/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [I'm learning. Watching video. Understanding what I'm good at, what I'm not good at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-bellinger/i-m-learning-watching-video-understanding-what-i-m-good-at-what-i-m/) [Cody Bellinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-bellinger/) > [The best way to understanding is a few good examples.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/the-best-way-to-understanding-is-a-few-good-examples/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [I believe that understanding what is good is obtained by looking at the way the world works and figuring out how to operate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/i-believe-that-understanding-what-is-good-is-obtained-by-looking-at/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [“In the end, ethical interpretation of the Bible means to think critically about how our practices of textual engagement might help us to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-brueggemann/in-the-end-ethical-interpretation-of-the-bible-means-to-think/) [Walter Brueggemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-brueggemann/) > [“. The understanding that what is good supports basic human rights and anything that threatens it is bad. We do not need a supernatural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stefanelli/the-understanding-that-what-is-good-supports-basic-human-rights-and/) [Al Stefanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stefanelli/) ## More by Fred Rogers > [Listening is a very active awareness of the coming together of at least two lives. Listening, as far as I'm concerned, is certainly a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/listening-is-a-very-active-awareness-of-the-coming-together-of-at/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [Children who have learned to be comfortably dependent can become not only comfortably independent but also comfortable with having people depend on them. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/children-who-have-learned-to-be-comfortably-dependent-can-become-not/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [As different as we are from one another, as unique as each one of us is, we are much more the same than we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/as-different-as-we-are-from-one-another-as-unique-as-each-one-of-us/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [This evening is as brief as the twinkling of an eye yet such twinklings is what eternity is made of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/this-evening-is-as-brief-as-the-twinkling-of-an-eye-yet-such/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [The underlying message of the Neighborhood is that if somebody cares about you, it's possible that you'll care about others. 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When those things that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/the-values-we-care-about-the-deepest-and-the-movements-within-society/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [“Everyone longs to be loved. And the greatest thing we can do is to let people know that they are loved and capable of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/everyone-longs-to-be-loved-and-the-greatest-thing-we-can-do-is-to-let/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [Attitudes are caught, not taught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/attitudes-are-caught-not-taught/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [Forgiveness is a strange thing. It can sometimes be easier to forgive our enemies than our friends. It can be hardest of all to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/forgiveness-is-a-strange-thing-it-can-sometimes-be-easier-to-forgive/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [If the grain of wheat could know fear, it would be paralyzed with anxiety at the thought of being dropped in the ground, covered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/if-the-grain-of-wheat-could-know-fear-it-would-be-paralyzed-with/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [What's been important in my understanding of myself and others is the fact that each one of us is so much more than any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/what-s-been-important-in-my-understanding-of-myself-and-others-is-the/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) [Explore all 263 Fred Rogers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If the day ever came when we were able to accept ourselves and our children exactly as we and they are, then, I believe, we would have come very close to an ultimate understanding of what 'good' parenting means.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Fred Rogers" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/if-the-day-ever-came-when-we-were-able-to-accept-ourselves-and-our/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/if-the-day-ever-came-when-we-were-able-to-accept-ourselves-and-our/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a6/fred-rogers-1272_believe_if-the-day-ever-came-when-we-were-able-t_1268373.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a6/fred-rogers-1272_believe_if-the-day-ever-came-when-we-were-able-t_1268373.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a6/fred-rogers-1272_believe_if-the-day-ever-came-when-we-were-able-t_1268373.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If the day ever came when we were able to accept ourselves and our children exactly as we and they are…” — Fred Rogers", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Fred Rogers", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If the day ever came when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/if-the-day-ever-came-when-we-were-able-to-accept-ourselves-and-our/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/if-the-day-ever-came-when-we-were-able-to-accept-ourselves-and-our/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```