A Teenage Journey Through Grief and Growth

Teenagers today face tough stuff. They've got pandemics, social media madness, and a planet in crisis. But do they get to just be kids? The Apple TV+ series "Shrinking" tackles these questions through the story of Alice, a teen navigating her own grief while dealing with her dad's. Her mom died in a car accident, leaving Alice and her dad, Jimmy, to pick up the pieces. Alice becomes the grown-up in the family, supporting Jimmy through his grief, even though she's hurting too.The show isn't all doom and gloom. It shows the ups and downs of their relationship as they heal. Jimmy starts to step back into his role as a dad, and Alice gets to be a kid again — sort of. She's still dealing with her mom's death, and it's not easy. She struggles with her emotions, makes mistakes, and even goes to see the guy who killed her mom. But through it all, the show doesn't judge her or make her seem like a problem teenager. It shows her as a real person, trying to cope with a huge loss. "Shrinking" gives a raw look at how grief affects a teenager. It's not all sadness and tears. Sometimes it's messy, annoying, and even a little funny. The show reminds us that teens are people too, with real feelings and real problems. And sometimes, they just need someone to listen and understand.