Two Nights in Hawkins: How Stranger Things Brought My Family Back Together (Even Just for a Moment)
If you’d told me a few years ago that watching a horror-ish TV show with my teenagers would feel like soul-filling family bonding, I would’ve laughed. But here we are — in the thick of raising a 13 (nearly 14!) and 15-year-old — and honestly, I’ll take connection wherever I can get it.
Because this year has been a big lesson for me as a mum in giving space. Space for my kids to grow. Space for them to retreat. Space for them to be annoyed, tired, hormonal, distant, busy, or all of the above.
And with that space comes… less. Less sharing around the dinner table. Less communication. Less family outings. Less of the sweet, sticky bonding moments I used to take for granted when they were little.
They still happen — just less. And that’s been a hard adjustment for my heart.
So this week, when the first instalment of Stranger Things Season 5 dropped on Netflix and we ALL happened to be counting down with genuine excitement, something magical happened. We suddenly had a shared obsession again.
Not just a show — but a spark.
We were talking theories, debating who might get killed off, arguing (lovingly!) about plot twists, and hyping ourselves up for the release like we were preparing for a family holiday. It honestly felt like a gift.
Two Blissful Nights I Didn’t Know I Needed
With only four episodes released, we made a plan: two episodes on Thursday night and two more on Friday. Phones away. Lights off. Snacks sorted. All of us on the couch.
And oh my god — the presence. Two nights of us fully locked into the same world, the same conversations, the same moments. Two nights of laughter, jump scares, commentary, predictions, and actual togetherness.
It might sound tiny to families with younger kids who still enjoy these moments regularly… but for us, at this stage of parenting? This was GOLD.
The last time we were this collectively invested was Ted Lasso (and yes, we absolutely cannot wait for that to return!).
Why This Show Works For Us (Even Though I Watch Half Through a Cushion)
Let me be clear: I’m not into horror. Not into gore. Not into anything spooky unless it comes in the form of a Halloween-themed cupcake.
This show is scary. It’s jumpy. There’s blood. There are monsters. My son only started watching from age 13 this year and has devoured every season with us re-watching with him.
But what keeps me coming back?
- The 80s nostalgia — the clothes, the hair, the music. Fun Fact: I let out a huge squeal of excitement (not fear!) when I saw the exact same cassette player that I got for my 13th birthday in episode 3 this week (if you watch the show, the one that Henry gave Holly Wheeler along with her Tiffany tape!)
- The adventurous, bike-riding, clever-kid energy. Sometimes I wish my kids were biking around getting chased by monsters in real life instead of gaming! 😆
- The deep, emotional relationships that anchor the show. It's the relationships that make this show the hit it is, not the special effects!
If you’ve never seen it, imagine The Goonies meets The X-Files with bigger emotional punches, more jump scares, and deeper character bonds.
The real heart of the show is in the friendships and the relationships with their parents or caregivers. There’s so much tenderness woven through the chaos — loyalty, bravery, sacrifice, love — and these themes give me gorgeous moments to talk with my kids about what truly matters.
(Meanwhile, I am often clutching a couch cushion over my face while my children gleefully narrate when it’s safe for me to look again…)
Why It Meant So Much
Sitting with my kids for those two nights, talking about courage, loyalty, fear and connection — it just cracked me open in the best way.
Anything that gets my teens exploring the depth of human relationships is something I’ll say yes to, even if it comes wrapped in monsters and synth-pop.
And honestly? I’m just grateful.
- Grateful for the closeness, even if it’s rarer now.
- Grateful for a show that pulled us into the same orbit.
- Grateful for the reminder that connection doesn’t always look like big outings or deep chats — sometimes it’s a TV show, a dark room, and shared anticipation.
This Stage of Parenting… What a Ride
Gone are the days when I could scoop them up, hold their hands, or get endless cuddles and chatter without effort. Now everything is more subtle, more fleeting, more quietly precious.
And one day — sooner than I’m ready for — they’ll be out of home and I’ll be hanging out for the sound of their voices on the phone.
Every stage of raising kids is as hard as it is beautiful. And these two nights in Hawkins reminded me that even in the “less,” there are still moments of “more” — if I stay open enough to recognise them.
And yes we can't wait for the final instalment to drop (Dec 26th!) and I'm almost glad they are dragging it out again...as it it gives us more time to talk and anticipate together.
Plus we all know what we will be doing on Boxing Day: binging all 4 episodes while eating left over ham, potato salad and pavlova! and for that I thank Netflix and I thank The Duffer Brothers (writers and directors) and I thank the fact that I have changed enough as a person and a parent to be grateful for whatever I can get!
Yours in Health,
Alisha
Ps. If you need any emotional support while raising Teens - please take a look at our Teenager Pack and if needed, you might want to swipe the 'Let it Go' blend for yourself! x
Two Nights in Hawkins: How Stranger Things Brought My Family Back Together (Even Just for a Moment)
If you’d told me a few years ago that watching a horror-ish TV show with my teenagers would feel like soul-filling family bonding, I would’ve laughed. But here we are — in the thick of raising a 13 (nearly 14!) and 15-year-old — and honestly, I’ll take connection wherever I can get it.
Because this year has been a big lesson for me as a mum in giving space. Space for my kids to grow. Space for them to retreat. Space for them to be annoyed, tired, hormonal, distant, busy, or all of the above.
And with that space comes… less. Less sharing around the dinner table. Less communication. Less family outings. Less of the sweet, sticky bonding moments I used to take for granted when they were little.
They still happen — just less. And that’s been a hard adjustment for my heart.
So this week, when the first instalment of Stranger Things Season 5 dropped on Netflix and we ALL happened to be counting down with genuine excitement, something magical happened. We suddenly had a shared obsession again.
Not just a show — but a spark.
We were talking theories, debating who might get killed off, arguing (lovingly!) about plot twists, and hyping ourselves up for the release like we were preparing for a family holiday. It honestly felt like a gift.
Two Blissful Nights I Didn’t Know I Needed
With only four episodes released, we made a plan: two episodes on Thursday night and two more on Friday. Phones away. Lights off. Snacks sorted. All of us on the couch.
And oh my god — the presence. Two nights of us fully locked into the same world, the same conversations, the same moments. Two nights of laughter, jump scares, commentary, predictions, and actual togetherness.
It might sound tiny to families with younger kids who still enjoy these moments regularly… but for us, at this stage of parenting? This was GOLD.
The last time we were this collectively invested was Ted Lasso (and yes, we absolutely cannot wait for that to return!).
Why This Show Works For Us (Even Though I Watch Half Through a Cushion)
Let me be clear: I’m not into horror. Not into gore. Not into anything spooky unless it comes in the form of a Halloween-themed cupcake.
This show is scary. It’s jumpy. There’s blood. There are monsters. My son only started watching from age 13 this year and has devoured every season with us re-watching with him.
But what keeps me coming back?
- The 80s nostalgia — the clothes, the hair, the music. Fun Fact: I let out a huge squeal of excitement (not fear!) when I saw the exact same cassette player that I got for my 13th birthday in episode 3 this week (if you watch the show, the one that Henry gave Holly Wheeler along with her Tiffany tape!)
- The adventurous, bike-riding, clever-kid energy. Sometimes I wish my kids were biking around getting chased by monsters in real life instead of gaming! 😆
- The deep, emotional relationships that anchor the show. It's the relationships that make this show the hit it is, not the special effects!
If you’ve never seen it, imagine The Goonies meets The X-Files with bigger emotional punches, more jump scares, and deeper character bonds.
The real heart of the show is in the friendships and the relationships with their parents or caregivers. There’s so much tenderness woven through the chaos — loyalty, bravery, sacrifice, love — and these themes give me gorgeous moments to talk with my kids about what truly matters.
(Meanwhile, I am often clutching a couch cushion over my face while my children gleefully narrate when it’s safe for me to look again…)
Why It Meant So Much
Sitting with my kids for those two nights, talking about courage, loyalty, fear and connection — it just cracked me open in the best way.
Anything that gets my teens exploring the depth of human relationships is something I’ll say yes to, even if it comes wrapped in monsters and synth-pop.
And honestly? I’m just grateful.
- Grateful for the closeness, even if it’s rarer now.
- Grateful for a show that pulled us into the same orbit.
- Grateful for the reminder that connection doesn’t always look like big outings or deep chats — sometimes it’s a TV show, a dark room, and shared anticipation.
This Stage of Parenting… What a Ride
Gone are the days when I could scoop them up, hold their hands, or get endless cuddles and chatter without effort. Now everything is more subtle, more fleeting, more quietly precious.
And one day — sooner than I’m ready for — they’ll be out of home and I’ll be hanging out for the sound of their voices on the phone.
Every stage of raising kids is as hard as it is beautiful. And these two nights in Hawkins reminded me that even in the “less,” there are still moments of “more” — if I stay open enough to recognise them.
And yes we can't wait for the final instalment to drop (Dec 26th!) and I'm almost glad they are dragging it out again...as it it gives us more time to talk and anticipate together.
Plus we all know what we will be doing on Boxing Day: binging all 4 episodes while eating left over ham, potato salad and pavlova! and for that I thank Netflix and I thank The Duffer Brothers (writers and directors) and I thank the fact that I have changed enough as a person and a parent to be grateful for whatever I can get!
Yours in Health,
Alisha
Ps. If you need any emotional support while raising Teens - please take a look at our Teenager Pack and if needed, you might want to swipe the 'Let it Go' blend for yourself! x
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