Parents! watch 13 Reasons Why
13 Reasons Why, a Netflix original show, came out last year. And if you’re a parent, probably heard about it. The show is based on the book is by Jay Asher. It follows the story of Hannah Baker, who commits suicide and in tapes leaves 13 reasons why she did it. Season 2, was just released on May 18th and here is why I think every parent should watch it.
Contrary to the first season, which I think glamorized teen suicide, this season they did a better job of bringing awareness to mental health. They really dig into student/school relationship and the intricacies of falling through the cracks at school. It also brings attention to privilege and how easily some people can get away with things. We again see rape, drug use and abuse. And they also dig into sports culture.
The show was cringe worthy and it took me 4 days to get through it because some episodes were tough to watch. The last episode particularly left me shocked as I watched just 2 days after the Texas school shooting. It left me wondering how are these kids being taken care of in our schools. Are schools to crowded, do we need more people to become trained social workers/therapist?
This season you see the suicide through the eyes of Hannah’s moms. She has to sit in a courtroom and listen to what everyone had to say about her daughter. While I know that high school can be a scary place, I could never imagine those things actually happening. Yet seeing them on tv, I have no doubt that they DO happen in many schools. To imagine that your kid could be hurting that much and not know. On top of that, the school that they trust is not taking care of them, it’s a scary thought.
That said, I think the show can help parents understand signs that our kids might show when they are going through something. It also makes us understand how important it is to BE PRESENT. And not be just there, but be an actual parent. It can help us start dialogue with our kids about school. It also opens the door to communication with school. For example, if, as a parent something is going on with your kids and you don’t know what it is and they won’t talk to you, go to the school counselor. Maybe they can provide insight to what your child might be going through. We have to remember mental health is not always a visible illness.
As a parent, even of small children, I want to understand why kids are killing each other in school shootings, or why kids are bullying each other, or drinking and doing drugs, and although this is a fictional show, it does a great job of presenting how those things can actually end up happening.
The show doesn’t have the happy ending everyone expects, it shows the reality of the our terrible justice system. It also leaves the door open for season 3.
I will leave you with this, IT IS NOT A KID OR TEENAGER SHOW. I would never let my child watch this. It is dark and heavy and it can create more confusion than resolution. But as a parent, it’s a must.
I truly “enjoyed” watching the first one. I said “enjoyed” cause it was hard to watch but very necessary. As a parent, we need to take advantage of every resource out there to learn much about what our children are going through which it very different that our time. Social media has definitely amplified their pressure to become much more and bullies uses it to do their thing. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to see season 2. It is a must. As a parent, you have to watch. The more informed we are, the better we can read the signs and perhaps learn from those to assist our children
Oh please let me know when you watch season 2… it’s very different than the first one. Thanks for reading.
It defines shows some real stuff that happens in schools and no one talks about them. This is why I decided to study psychology, to be able to understand what is going through kids and teenagers brains, and it has definitely helped me to build s relationships based in trust with my stepkids and hopefully will work with my daughter. I was bullied all the time, and I admit that part of my depression is because of it. I was not an introvert, I was made one, because the constant bullying. It is our job as parents to make sure our kids respect others and at the same time stand for themselves.
I meant to say *it definitely* not it defines
Yes. It’s crazy to think about it but we must as a parent and with everything else going on in the world is imperative. Thanks for reading!