Everyone knows the beloved Camden family from Glen Oak, California. Eric, Annie, Matt, Mary, Lucy, Simon, and little Ruthie.... and later on Sam and David. Everyone wanted to be a Camden, including me.
Growing up one of my favorite shows to watch was "7th Heaven" while my parents did not think it was the most appropriate show for a young girl to be watching, the reluctantly let me continue because they agreed that the show produced many life lessons for young people. I am here to share with you my top seven themes that I find the most impactful.
1. Reckless driving
This one really stands out to me now, because I only started driving about three years ago. There is an episode where Lucy's friend Sarah is killed in an accident because she was driving a car while she did not have her license. The girl was young and inexperienced, resulting in an accident which caused her death. This, unfortunately, happens all too often.
2. Sexual misconduct
I see news stories all the time, especially recently, of people in positions of superiority abusing their power and taking advantage of young people. There is an episode where Mary's basketball coach becomes inappropriate with her. Her mother and the principal are able to put an end to it before it can go too far. This teaches teenagers to be honest with their parents or another adult if someone is making them feel uncomfortable or acting in an inappropriate manner.
3. Stealing
There are many episodes that deal with stealing on this show. But the one that sticks out the most to me is when Mary steals from her Sam and David's piggy bank to pay her bills. Her parents end up shipping her off to Buffalo, NY to live with her grandparents, which is a little harsh if you ask me, but it does show you that there are consequences to your actions.
4. Teenage parenthood
There is a character on the show named Wilson, who is a single father to a little boy. Wilson is the first teen parent many of the children have ever met, and Mr. & Mrs. Camden are hesitant that he will be a bad influence. But this storyline shows that he was just looking for support and help to raise his son to the best of his abilities, because like the show says, "just because people make mistakes, does not mean their children should pay for it".
5. Gun violence
In season three, the patriarch of the family, Eric Camden is shot in the shoulder by a young man. After this incident, the family discusses how gun violence is becoming so common in the younger generations due to the promotion of it in media and video games.
6. Alcohol abuse
The family's Aunt Julie is known throughout the show as a recovering alcoholic, but in the first season, when her alcoholism comes out, it really affects the family. In one episode she is so determined to get into the liquor cabinet, she physically hurts young Simon to gain access. While she never meant to hurt him, this shows how alcohol and addiction to it can take over one's life so much.
7. The Holocaust
To this day this is the episode I think about the most. Young Simon meets a woman who is a Holocaust survivor. She helps him with his presentation for his class by giving her account of her horrible experience at the Auschwitz camp in Poland. She says something that always stays with me: "If only we could stop hating each other", this quote is the epitome of what 7th Heaven teaches. The show inspires love and family, and in my opinion, one of the best series ever written.
