Winter break is over. Chances are, a few of us spent some time catching up on our favorite television shows. I spent a good portion of my break with the Bravermans. “Parenthood,” which is now on its fourth season, is a heart-wrenching and honest show about family.

The show taps into the lives of  Adam, Sara, Crosby and Julia Braverman. Each of their families deal with a variety of issues, such as autism, adoption and sickness; however, this show is not your typical after-school special. Topics are not simply introduced and then dropped like today’s popular TV shows.

Each episode builds off of the last, and every family member’s struggles and triumphs are recognized equally — including the child actors on the show.  Many viewers feel they have seen these children grow up, and, in certain respects, they have.

Adam’s son Max, played by Max Burkholder, has hit puberty this season. Max was diagnosed with Asperger’s in the first season. His struggles with friends, school and therapy have been touched on in almost every episode.

Julia and Joel’s adopted son, Victor, has also been introduced this season. His struggle with the adoption and his place in the Braverman family has had many viewers on the edge of their seats and often commenting on the show’s many social media pages.

If you visit the show’s active Facebook and Twitter accounts, you will see hundreds of comments about each episode. Users debate parenting styles, and some users have to remind others that these characters are in fact a fictional family.

One of the most rewarding parts about this show is the fact that viewers are learning about issues that may not specifically affect their family, but friends and other people with similar struggles.

Social media users have been using the show as a type of support system. Fans often recount stories about their children and how the show has introduced them to topics such as Asperger’s, issues with adoption and cancer.

The forth season revolves around Adam and his wife Kristina, as well as Julia and Joel’s adopted son Victor. I won’t add any more spoilers, but let’s just say it is the most heart-wrenching season yet. Be prepared with a box of tissues.

5 out of 5 stars