Otheruses
Growing Pains is an
American television sitcom that ran on the
ABC network from 1985 to 1992.
The show's premise is based around the fictional Seaver family, who reside on
Long Island, New York. Dr. Jason Seaver (
Alan Thicke), a
psychiatrist, works from home because his wife, Maggie Malone (
Joanna Kerns), has gone back to work as a
reporter. Jason has to take care of the kids: troublemaker Mike (
Kirk Cameron),
honors student Carol (
Tracey Gold), and rambunctious Ben (
Jeremy Miller). From
1988 on, Chrissy Seaver became a part of the family. She was played in her infant stage by twins
Kristen and
Kelsey Dohring (who alternated). Beginning in the fall of
1990, Chrissy's character's age
was advanced to six years old, whereupon
Ashley Johnson took over the role. The show was relevant in the mid-1980s, as women going to work was becoming more and more common, as were
stay-at-home dads.