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“Mom, it’s starting!” My 14-year-old son, Alex, calls out from the couch, snuggled up with our dog beneath a cozy blanket, just as he’s done for countless hours over the past year.
His TV consumption skyrocketed with the onset of the pandemic. With my husband laid off, our college-aged daughter, Jamie, and Alex returning home, and school shifting to virtual learning for our youngest, the rules surrounding screen time quickly disappeared. What began as a fragile adjustment turned into a shared escape for our family.
At first, I resisted the idea of increased screen time. Growing up, TV was a small part of my childhood, confined to a chilly room with limited shows like “Wonder Woman” and “60 Minutes.” I preferred books, where I could lose myself in stories for hours. My husband and I, raised with different views on screen time, agreed on one thing: studies indicate that while educational TV can enhance cognitive skills in children, excessive viewing could lead to declines in adult IQ. Thus, our goal as parents was clear: limit screens, aside from educational programs.
Even now, there is just one television in our home, and the only gaming system, a dusty Wii, rarely sees action. Pre-pandemic, weekdays were dedicated to homework and family meals. Weekend viewing was limited to age-appropriate content. Our three kids would huddle on the couch as our dog settled on the rug.
Enter 2019. We began watching shows during dinner, bingeing seasons of “The Office” and “Freaks and Geeks” while indulging in comfort foods. As I fretted over the potential downsides of all this screen time, my husband cited a NIH-funded study suggesting that screen time isn’t as detrimental as I feared. The main concern, he noted, was that it could limit other activities, such as outdoor play or sleep.
My worry grew, especially for Alex. The older kids returned to their campuses, but he continued school from his room, shades drawn and camera off. He maintained decent grades but stopped attending electives, including music, which he had always loved. For the first time, he faced challenges in school, particularly in a class that had shifted to “Walking for Fitness,” a concept he resisted.
Though we provided vitamin D supplements, Alex’s complexion became pale. He wore the same hoodie daily, and the clutter around his space mounted. This was more than typical teenage rebellion; it was a manifestation of his autonomy in a chaotic world.
I understood that parents shouldn’t force solutions onto their children, but with alarming statistics about teen mental health, I grew increasingly concerned. Experts recommend empathetic communication, yet Alex resisted discussing his feelings with me or a therapist. Attempts to encourage social interaction were met with anxiety, leading to frequent arguments about his lifestyle choices.
Then, a few weeks ago, Alex and I stumbled upon “Stranger Things.” While he had already watched the first three seasons, I had been hesitant due to the themes of missing children. However, with the fourth season approaching, he encouraged me to join him.
With my husband back at work, we cozied up on the couch, consuming 25 episodes in just a week. I won’t share spoilers, but the narrative revolves around a group of kids navigating adolescence while combating supernatural challenges. As the story unfolds, the characters evolve, mirroring the changes Alex has faced over the past year.
Much like the portal to the “Upside Down” in the show, our viewing experience became a way to connect. Spending those hours together, we discussed everything from first crushes to the parallels between the show’s dark themes and our own pandemic experiences. In those moments, I found solace in being physically close to him again.
It wasn’t instantaneous, but that week marked a pivotal change. I relaxed my concerns about Alex’s quarantine habits, and he began to open up. He agreed to outdoor meetups with friends and even shared his music playlist during our drives.
With the new teaser for “Stranger Things” released, we eagerly anticipate diving into season four together. After all, in the end, the heroes always triumph, and right now, we could use that kind of hope.
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In summary, watching “Stranger Things” together not only provided an enjoyable distraction but also facilitated meaningful conversations and connections between me and my son during a challenging time.
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