I spent my holiday break watching Stranger Things…and loved it.

Judge me if you want but I spent many hours this holiday break watching the Netflix show, Stranger Things with my 14-year-old son.

Honestly, I didn’t even want to watch the show when I started. I’m a rom-com gal! But do any of you have teenage sons out there? It’s VERY hard to find things to bond over. So, when he asked me to watch the series with him, I quickly obliged.

For those of you that don’t watch Stranger Things, here’s a quick rundown (very quick). It’s basically about a set of teenagers battling a bunch of demonic, human eating demons from an alternative dimension. And it’s set in the early-mid 80’s.

It’s gory. It’s dark. It has Demogorgons. But I love it anyway and here’s why.

First of all…the 80s! The show nailed what it was like being a kid in the 80s (minus the whole Demogorgon thing). Brought back a lot of memories growing up like no cell phones, riding bikes everywhere, total lack of parental oversight, bowl haircuts, really bad pastel clothing choices, hanging out at the mall!

And the music…amazing music! Early Madonna, Journey, Toto, Foreigner, Kate Bush. “I think we’re alone now” has been running in my head nonstop.

Secondly, the show’s storyline is enthralling. It’s nearly impossible to not click “Next Episode” as it pops up on the screen.

Now, I’m not a gore person. I’m not a sci-fi person (although I did love The X-Files back in the day). But this completely unrealistic plot manifests itself as reality and you 100% buy into it. The story is woven together layer by layer like an intricate quilt with each season building on the next as the story goes deeper. I honestly could have just watched nonstop over break if little things like eating, bathing and basic household responsibilities didn’t get in the way.

And each of the main characters is perfectly flawed and completely relatable. The handsome high school heartbreaker who actually has a heart. The nerdy kids who get bullied because they don’t fit in. The single mom working hard to keep it together against all odds and do best by her kids. The alcoholic cop with a hard exterior who has suffered great loss and has nothing to live for.  They are outcasts in their own way and you are rooting for them to defeat this seemingly undefeatable force.

And through the gore and fright there is also levity, wholeheartedness, friendship and of course, love…all packed up with bad perms and Charter Club jackets. And flesh-eating demons.

But I think something that really stuck with me as I face my own challenges in life are the character’s unrelenting courage. Diving headfirst into very high-risk situations with no safety net. Some might call it stupid. Actually, I think I did during multiple episodes!  But a part of me was also inspired by it. It’s not that the characters weren’t afraid…often times they were. But they did it anyway…without flinching. They didn’t let fear hold them back.

And as I reflect on my own life, what would I have done differently if I wasn’t afraid?

How do I let go of my fears so I can face my own demons? Demons that aren’t as tangible as an eyeless monster with a flowered shaped head…but are still just as real.

Lucky for me, my Stranger Things experience is not yet over. I still have 1 ½ seasons to go with these beloved characters and bonding with my son.  And now that break is over, my bingeing should slow down to one episode at a time (maybe).

If you haven’t watched the show yet…I highly recommend it. Even if you don’t have a 14-year-old in the house. I think it teaches us about courage, friendship, hope, endurance and the belief that we can be successful even when the odds are against us.

And Demogorgons. It teaches us about Demogorgons.

#strangerthings