Holding My Boy: A Reflection on Adolescence and the Soul of Our Young Men
The opening scene… indeed, the whole first episode of Adolescence… left me breathless. I didn’t realise at first what was happening in my body, but I found myself holding on… quite literally. My left arm had wrapped itself around me… a small, unconscious act of comfort. But deeper still, I realised I was holding onto my boy. He was upstairs, fast asleep after a day filled with church, exploring the forest, and playing Minecraft… a game I’ve also found myself quietly getting hooked on. But down here, I was holding him in spirit… shielding him in some way, as I watched a powerful piece of television unfold before me. Adolescence struck me as more than just drama... it was a historic piece of storytelling, laying bare what so many young men are facing in today’s world. I haven’t yet watched the rest… though Donna, my wife, is urging me to… and I will, knowing now that it is a masterclass in showing us what has been growing, festering, and tightening its grip on the souls of our sons: to...
