Growing Pains

1Pilot

25 minSep 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.

2Springsteen

24 minOct 1, 1985

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

3Jealousy

24 minOct 8, 1985

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

4Carol's Article

24 minOct 15, 1985

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

5Superdad!

24 minOct 29, 1985

Maggie accuses Jason of monopolizing the children.

6Mike's Madonna Story

24 minNov 5, 1985

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

7Weekend Fantasy

24 minNov 12, 1985

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

8Slice of Life

24 minNov 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.

9Carol's Crush

24 minNov 26, 1985

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

10Dirt Bike

24 minDec 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.

11Standardized Test

24 minDec 10, 1985

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

12A Christmas Story

24 minDec 17, 1985

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

13The Love Song of M. Aaron Seaver

24 minJan 7, 1986

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

14First Blood

24 minJan 14, 1986

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

15Slice of Life II

24 minJan 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.

16The Seavers vs. the Cleavers

24 minJan 28, 1986

The PTA head rejects the Seavers as dance chaperones.

17Charity Begins at Home

24 minFeb 18, 1986

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

18Reputation

24 minFeb 25, 1986

Mike writes test answers on his shoe soles.

19The Anniversary That Never Was

24 minMar 4, 1986

Maggie's assignment interferes with anniversary plans.

20Be a Man

24 minMar 11, 1986

Custodian Mike watches a wild party explode in his home.

21Career Decision

24 minMay 6, 1986

Reporter Maggie and psychiatrist Jason both face important career decisions.

22Extra Lap

24 minMay 13, 1986

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