Growing Pains

Sep 24, 1985

Maggie goes back to work as a journalist, prompting psychologist Jason to move his office into their home so he can keep his eye on the kids. Things don't get off to a great start: the first night he gets a call from the police that Mike has been picked up for illegally driving a car.

Oct 1, 1985

Jason embarrasses Mike at a Bruce Springsteen concert when they are interviewed together.

Oct 8, 1985

Jason fumes when Maggie spends long hours on a toxic waste story with handsome co-worker Fred.

Oct 15, 1985

Maggie gives an honest assessment of Carol's writing of an article for her school magazine; Mike and Ben discover track betting.

Oct 29, 1985

Maggie accuses Jason of monopolizing the children.

Nov 5, 1985

Mike's infatuation with a Madonna look-alike worries Maggie.

Nov 12, 1985

Jason and Maggie want to go to a mountain lodge for a weekend, but are reluctant to leave the kids alone.

Nov 19, 1985

Coming across a compatibility test in Jason's office, Maggie decides she and Jason should fill it out, but her answers don't tab with his. Meanwhile, Mike feigns interest in karate when his real goal is a girl attending the course.

Nov 26, 1985

Carol develops a crush on a family friend, who thinks of her as his little sister.

Dec 3, 1985

Mike hurts more than his pride when he takes a nasty fall off a dirt bike that he promised his parents he wouldn't go near.

Dec 10, 1985

Mike doodles on his aptitude test and winds up with an IQ score of 27.

Dec 17, 1985

A depressed department store Santa consulting Jason decides to commit suicide by leaping down the Seavers' chimney.

Jan 7, 1986

Mike backs out of the family-bowling match so he can date a snobbish girlfriend.

Jan 14, 1986

Jason faces off against Ben's hockey coach, who's teaching the boys to play dirty; Mike learns ballroom dancing.

Jan 21, 1986

Maggie casually mentions to Jason that she might be pregnant; Mike acts as a weekend servant to Ben; and Carol wants to divorce her class-project husband.

Jan 28, 1986

The PTA head rejects the Seavers as dance chaperones.

Feb 18, 1986

Ben gives Jason a very expensive birthday present, causing speculation on how he can possibly afford it.

Feb 25, 1986

Mike writes test answers on his shoe soles.

Mar 4, 1986

Maggie's assignment interferes with anniversary plans.

Mar 11, 1986

Custodian Mike watches a wild party explode in his home.

May 6, 1986

Reporter Maggie and psychiatrist Jason both face important career decisions.

May 13, 1986

Mike's practical-joker uncle Bob visits from the hereafter.

Sep 30, 1986

Maggie plans a surprise reunion for Jason's college rock band.

Oct 21, 1986

A new school year brings boredom, bullies, and romantic mix-ups.

Oct 28, 1986

A cheerleader befriends Carol solely to meet Mike.

Nov 11, 1986

Ben has been calling an X-rated phone service.

Nov 18, 1986

Fired Mike hides the truth from his parents.

Nov 25, 1986

Carol spreads rumors about herself and a "hunk".

Dec 2, 1986

A con man sells Mike a "magic" rock.

Dec 9, 1986

A proposed school dress code puts Maggie and Jason at odds.

Dec 16, 1986

Ben invites a street girl home for the holidays.

Jan 6, 1987

Grounded liar Mike hears Maggie fibbing to her boss.

Jan 13, 1987

Carol has the chance to skip a high-school grade.

Jan 20, 1987

A girl raises a grade for Mike, then demands payment.

Jan 27, 1987

The winter formal causes opposite problems for Carol and Mike.

Feb 3, 1987

Maggie's quarreling parents come to visit the Seavers.

Feb 10, 1987

Mike and his friends go to a college party and have to decide whether to use drugs or not.

Feb 24, 1987

Mike plays Cupid for smitten Ben and his baby sitter.

Mar 3, 1987

Carol wants to use radio-contest winnings on a nose job.

Mar 10, 1987

Maggie's busy schedule leaves Ben feeling neglected.

Mar 17, 1987

A genealogy assignment unearths a dark family secret.

Mar 31, 1987

Airlines passengers Jason and Mike must deliver a baby.

May 5, 1987

Maggie wants Jason to fire the elderly handyman he hired to fix the furnace, but he refuses because the man is a friend.

May 19, 1987

Jason knows the editor offering Maggie a dream job is a notorious womanizer.

Sep 18, 1987

The family is stranded in Maui. Ben videotapes Mike and Carol's Hawaiian romances.

Sep 22, 1987

Mike uses double talk to sell stereos.

Sep 29, 1987

The family scrambles to help find an out-of-work Maggie a job after she turns into Super Mom, preparing oversize meals and assigning new chores.

Oct 6, 1987

Mike is unaware that he's been nominated for student-body president because he's "a sure loser."

Oct 13, 1987

Ben asks Carol's advice on getting a new bike from their parents.

Oct 27, 1987

A star is born when Mike lands a leading role in the school play opposite the lovely Monica.

Nov 3, 1987

Burglars hit the Seaver home.

Nov 10, 1987

Bobby's annoying habits make Carol look elsewhere for the man of her dreams -- just in time for her to notice a new student.

Nov 17, 1987

During a tonsillectomy, Ben has an out-of-body experience, dreaming that he escapes with a friendly cabbie, only to find a new Ben has replaced him at home.

Nov 24, 1987

After their success in the school play, Mike and Monica set their sights on a Broadway audition for ""Our Town.""

Dec 1, 1987

An unearned "A" makes Carol doubt her academic record.

Dec 8, 1987

A troubled student named Jill volunteers to work on a school project with Mike and Boner. This, however, is a subterfuge: Jill has been contemplating suicide due to some very serious problems at home, and she hopes to get some free counseling from Mike's psychiatrist dad Jason. But as it turns out, Jason is presently weighed down with a few self-pity issues of his own.

Dec 15, 1987

Maggie and Jason try to keep Mike in his room to complete an English paper, but Mike's mind is of course elsewhere.

Jan 5, 1988

Reason flies out the window when Bobby and his parents arrive at the Seavers' for dinner and a special announcement -- that Bobby and Carol are engaged.

Jan 12, 1988

Maggie fumes over the many irritants that seem to be driving her and Jason apart -- until unexpected news sheds light on the situation.

Jan 26, 1988

Maggie and Carol share confidences at the beauty salon, but later Carol learns to her chagrin that a secret isn't safe with Maggie.

Feb 9, 1988

A letter from the girl he met in Hawaii has Mike scheming to fly to Los Angeles to see her without his parents' knowing.

Mar 1, 1988

At the school dance, Mike gets a girl and Carol gets raked over the coals. Meanwhile, Ben's adventure goes awry.

Mar 2, 1988

Great expectations turn sour at the Dewey High dance after Mike hears Lydia's voice; and Ben and Stinky find themselves in a seedy diner eyeing a pinball machine that pays real money.

Mar 9, 1988

The Seavers begin to make room for baby, relegating Ben to the guest quarters and making the others lament the changes bound to come. Meanwhile, Maggie grasps for a way to tell her boss she is pregnant.

Mar 30, 1988

Spring-cleaning breathes new life into the family's household objects, and each has a story to tell.

Apr 20, 1988

Mike and Boner learn that Coach Lubbock has been fired, prompting them to organize a protest.

Apr 26, 1988

Jason, Carol, Mike and Boner are arrested in the demonstration over the dismissal of Coach Lubbock.

May 4, 1988

At Mike's high-school graduation, family members recall moments when it seemed like his graduation would never take place.

Oct 19, 1988

Ben gets spooked at the prospect of asking a girl to a Halloween party; Jason becomes a disruptive force at Lamaze class.

Oct 26, 1988

Maggie goes into labor on Ben's 12th birthday and Ben confesses to a patient at the hospital that he's already feeling crowded.

Nov 2, 1988

Mike has a showdown with Jason over his rights as an 18-year-old college student, and declares his freedom from parental rule.

Nov 9, 1988

Landlord-tenant problems abound when Mike (Kirk Cameron) moves into the storage area over the family garage

Nov 16, 1988

Jason sends his mother on a cruise to get her mind off her dead husband, but when she returns with a fiancé in tow, Jason finds it hard to accept the man who will "replace" his father.

Nov 23, 1988

Carol is chosen for homecoming court.

Nov 30, 1988

Mike's photography course includes nude studies.

Dec 7, 1988

Ben throws a party to get to know a girl.

Jan 4, 1989

The Seavers hire a nanny for Chrissy.

Jan 11, 1989

A travel snafu strands Julie with Mike.

Jan 18, 1989

Carol sneaks out of the house for a date.

Jan 25, 1989

Maggie prepares her "Working Mother of the Year" acceptance speech.

Feb 1, 1989

Boner flunks out of college and joins the Marines.

Feb 8, 1989

Maggie arranges for Ben to meet his favorite rock musician.

Feb 15, 1989

Guests bicker at the Seavers' 20th-anniversary party.

Feb 22, 1989

When Mike takes a job at a convenience store, his mother is worried about him working the dangerous night shift; but Mike is more concerned about the favoritism his racist boss shows him as one of the few white employees.

Mar 1, 1989

Jason punishes Carol and Ben unequally for the same offense when they are both caught after sneaking out for dates without permission.

Mar 15, 1989

Carol doesn't want to attend her parents' alma mater.

Mar 22, 1989

Jason intervenes when Mike gets bad grades in psychology.

Apr 12, 1989

After Carol disobeys Maggie and Jason by sneaking out to a bar with her college-aged boyfriend Sandy, she learns a valuable lesson when Sandy gets into an accident and ends up in the hospital.

Apr 26, 1989

Jason's mother plans to wed aboard a cruise ship.

May 3, 1989

Jason tries to mend his mother's broken wedding plans.

Sep 20, 1989

Maggie opposes Mike and Julie's wedding plans.

Sep 27, 1989

Julie and Mike suffer prenuptial jitters.

Oct 4, 1989

Jason tells Carol to get a job.

Oct 11, 1989

His drama teacher and classmates intimidate Mike.

Oct 18, 1989

Carol brings a bogus boyfriend to a family party.

Oct 25, 1989

An angry Jason confronts Ben and Mike, who gives conflicting versions of how Ben came to sell Carol's old term papers to students at Dewey High -- and to date a seductive 18-year-old.

Nov 1, 1989

Mike is over the moon when he attends an open casting session and wins a part on a TV cop show -- and crushed when his single line is cut in the editing.

Nov 8, 1989

Jason gets a promising job offer.

Nov 15, 1989

Jason can't tell Maggie about the job offer.

Nov 22, 1989

Ben assumes Mike's paper route for half the money.

Nov 29, 1989

Their grandparents give Mike, Carol and Ben $5,000 each.

Dec 6, 1989

Promoted at work, Carol decides against college.

Dec 13, 1989

Mike takes Ben girl chasing.

Jan 3, 1990

Mike falls for his leading lady.

Jan 10, 1990

David turns to Mike for help with Kate.

Jan 17, 1990

The Seavers' reception to raise money for a free mental-health clinic spells disaster when they forget the date of the party and must scramble at the last minute for a caterer.

Jan 24, 1990

Ben asks permission to get his ear pierced, which leads to a serious argument between his parents.

Jan 31, 1990

While on a Valentine's Day dinner date with Kate, Mike runs into Julie at the restaurant.

Feb 7, 1990

Mike goes to work as a substitute teacher.

Feb 14, 1990

Carol lands in jail after a minor traffic violation.

Feb 21, 1990

Chrissy becomes a teenager in Maggie's dream, which is influenced by her fear of being an older parent in a sea of youngsters taking their kids to preschool.

Mar 14, 1990

Ben weighs the pros and cons of cheating after he learns the tricks of the test-passing trade from sly schoolmate Vito.

Mar 21, 1990

In a moment of introspection as he prepares to graduate, Mike wrestles with self-doubt about his ability as a director.

Apr 4, 1990

With Jason's wallet missing, the Seavers must rely on others to provide them with room and board while their house is being fumigated.

Apr 25, 1990

Ben casts a girl he likes as the lead in his home movie.

May 2, 1990

Jason and Mike head off together to inspect the mountain cabin Jason has inherited from his Uncle George.

Sep 19, 1990

When Mike lands a role in an off-Broadway play, he leaves college to pursue acting full-time in New York City.

Sep 26, 1990

Mike is broke and homeless in New York City.

Oct 3, 1990

Mike becomes roommates with sister Carol, now a Columbia University student.

Oct 10, 1990

Mike and his friend Eddie schemingly join "Parents Without Mates" to meet women.

Oct 17, 1990

At the school's Parents Night, the Seavers learn Ben's been telling his friends that the girl he's dating is promiscuous.

Oct 24, 1990

A flirty Jason gets jealous when Maggie turns the tables.

Oct 31, 1990

The Seavers spend a rainy Halloween night telling ghost stories.

Nov 7, 1990

Jason buys an anniversary trip to Paris from travel agent Mike, who himself wins a European tour that falls apart; Maggie, in Paris, is struck with appendicitis.

Nov 14, 1990

Maggie is hospitalized in Paris, while Mike finds himself stuck on the road with an angry customer.

Nov 28, 1990

Mike and Amy continue to bicker their way toward Paris.

Dec 5, 1990

Jason, happy to see his mother's second marriage crumbling, doesn't want to provide her with professional help.

Dec 19, 1990

Chrissy starts spending much time with her imaginary friend, a six-foot-tall mouse named Ike.

Jan 2, 1991

Mike's friend Eddie shows up for a double date with Mike's ex-girlfriend.

Jan 9, 1991

An an intrafamily communications seminar, Mike and Jason discover just how alike they are.

Jan 23, 1991

Jason becomes Ben's business partner in the management of a rap group, but uses the money he's invested to control Ben.

Jan 30, 1991

Maggie's dad drops in for an unexpected visit, with news of his imminent death.

Feb 6, 1991

Jason takes Maggie on a tropical getaway to lift her spirits after her father's death, trusting Chrissy to Mike and Carol.

Feb 13, 1991

Mike competes with a well-established actor for a role in a soap opera, learning how tenuous an acting career can be.

Feb 20, 1991

Though Jason had an insensitive Carol pitch in at the clinic, he objects to her dating an ex-con she meets there.

Mar 6, 1991

In an homage to The Twilight Zone, Ben awakens to discover he's Jeremy Miller, an actor on the set of ""Meet the Cleavers"".

Mar 27, 1991

On a blind date shaping up as a disaster, Carol goes to the carnival, and finds unexpected fun and excitement.

Apr 17, 1991

Maggie teaches Ben at home after he is suspended from school.

Apr 24, 1991

Mike and Kate accompany the eloping Eddie and a hat-check bimbette to Las Vegas, giving Mike and Carol the wrong idea.

Sep 18, 1991

Mike teaches at an urban high school.

Sep 25, 1991

Mike gets involved when he learns his prize pupil Luke is homeless.

Sep 28, 1991

Mike persuades Jason and Maggie to let Luke stay with them temporarily; then Jason's wine cellar goes missing.

Oct 5, 1991

Jason and Maggie compete to write a newspaper column; Ben hates his glasses.

Oct 12, 1991

Mike gears up for his big day as a TV soap opera star just as Luke gears up to move out of the Seavers'.

Oct 19, 1991

Luke is afraid to visit the doctor, so Jason accompanies him -- but it's Jason who turns out to need surgery.

Oct 26, 1991

Carol accompanies Maggie to a resort, which turns out to be hosting a singles convention; meanwhile, the all-male weekend planned at home is ruined when Chrissy is set home with head lice.

Nov 2, 1991

Nouveau riche neighbors move in next door; Ben is forced to look after Luke on his first day of high school; Jason's scheme to let Chrissie stay up late backfires when the neighbors throw a lavish party.

Nov 9, 1991

Consumer advocate Maggie raps a vacuum cleaner that Ben broke without telling her.

Nov 14, 1991

The ghost of Maggie's father oversees the Seavers' visit to her childhood home.

Nov 23, 1991

While Jason and Maggie are away, the principal informs Mike that Luke's birth father is back in town -- and wants him back.

Nov 30, 1991

Ben crams for a college entrance exam, but gets no help from Jason.

Dec 21, 1991

Christmas brings anger and angst to the Seavers.

Jan 4, 1992

Penniless Mike schemes to give Kate a skiing trip.

Jan 17, 1992

Luke's homeless friend steals a Seaver momento.

Feb 1, 1992

Maggie and Jason put Mike on the spot for Luke's curfew problems.

Feb 8, 1992

A love triangle involves Ben, Luke and a classmate.

Feb 22, 1992

Tired of being bullies, Ben takes karate lessons.

Feb 29, 1992

Mike thinks his friend is a bad influence on Luke.

Mar 21, 1992

Luke's father George visits the Seavers hoping that Luke has mellowed a little and would like to spend some time with him but Luke doesn't. He was about to leave when he collapses outside the door. He says that can't move, so they take him in. Jason and Ben offer to deliver his load, and they experience all sorts of chaos on the way. Mike thinks that George is faking his injury so that he could stay and Luke would have to talk to him. But the doctor tells Maggie who tells Mike that unless George stops driving trucks, he could become paralyzed. Mike talks to George and tells him to tell Luke but doesn't want Luke to pity him and doesn't anything else to do but be a trucker. Mike suggests that maybe he could open a truck stop. Luke finds George struggling to get up and they finally talk. The next day after Jason and Ben return, George tells them that he is giving up trucking and will open a truck stop and Luke's going with him. Luke says goodbye to the Seavers.

Apr 4, 1992

Maggie wants to fulfill a dream by climbing a mountain.

Apr 11, 1992

A power failure causes dissensions in the Seaver household.

Apr 25, 1992

Maggie is offered a plum job in Washington, D.C. The Seavers move to Washington, D.C., but share a final meal and memories in the empty house.