When we watch Stranger Things, we often find ourselves asking, "Where are the parents!" It takes place in the 1980s, so parenting was a lot more hands-off and freedom-focused, which was good in many ways, but it also ensured that parents didn't know when their children were, say, being attacked by Demogorgons. It might have been helpful to actually check on the kids once in a while and know if a child who escaped from a local lab was living in your basement or not.
The exception, of course, is Joyce. Joyce Byers isn't only #momgoals in Stranger Things, but in general, and these are her most shining moments as a concerned and attentive parent.
Stopping For Nothing To Find (And Save) Her Son
Joyce Byers was one of the strongest characters throughout the first season of Stranger Things, going the extra mile again and again to find Will. It was during the second season, however, when she was truly tested regarding the boy as he was possessed by the Mind Flayer.
When Joyce had to save her son by "burning" out the Mind Flayer from his body, Jonathan could barely bear it, begging her to stop. It took everything in Joyce to first tie and sedate her son to try and bring him back then to later get him uncomfortably hot to get the monster to exit his body. Thankfully, it worked.
Refusing To Fall For The Fake Body
The presence of a body confirms one's demise, which is why so many fans are skeptical about Hopper's death in the third season. That said, the body of fake-Will, produced by Hawkins Lab in the first season of Stranger Things, certainly looked real enough to fool Jonathan. Joyce, however, was not convinced, even going as far as to say "that thing" was not her son.
This moment proved Joyce's strong dedication as a parent. Many would give up at this point, but Joyce was determined to prove that the body didn't truly match that of her son and to find him at all costs.
Entering The Upside Down
Most people wouldn't enter the Upside Down, especially after stepping foot inside and realizing how dangerous the desolate world truly is. One peek at the bodies the Demogorgon has collected would have many people, no matter their age, screaming for help. Joyce doesn't care what she encounters in this messed-up world as long as she can get to her son.
Many parents would say the same thing, but who would truly be brave enough to venture into another dimension with no promise of returning safely? Certainly, some would, and they might prove to be as dedicated parents as Joyce Byers.
Supporting Will's Goals
Out of all the parents we meet in Stranger Things, Joyce seems the best at not only knowing but "getting" her son. While the Wheelers just guess at what drives their kids, Joyce knows Will's interests, from scary movies to art. She knows where Jonathan wants to attend college and does her best to support him as well.
Joyce knows Will's drawing style so well that she can tell the scribbles found at Hawkins Lab certainly aren't drawn by her son. While they're obviously more child-like, Joyce still bonds with her son more than the other parents on the show seem to, and she knows how to test his memory when he's possessed by the Mind Flayer.
Walking Hopper Through Parenting
Hopper comes to Joyce for parenting advice after his adoption of Eleven is made public. While it's adorable, Joyce certainly didn't have to dish out tips, but of course, she did because she's Joyce Byers. Any child of the '80s watching the show instantly saw the quality in Joyce's parenting as she discussed feelings, boundaries, and teen respect, as many parents didn't have the insight or words to express these concepts at the time.
Today's parents have the internet and countless tips regarding authoritative and conscious parenting styles, but Joyce's style was more instinctive than anything, demonstrating how much thought and care she puts into her role.
Putting Her Kids First
While Joyce works hard at a low-paying job to support her family mostly on her own, she ensures that she's home for breakfast and checks on her kids. She does delegate to her oldest son, Jonathan, as many parents do, but she does everything she can for her children while she's not working.
When Will goes missing, Joyce also takes time off work and utilizes her history as a loyal employee for a few favors to help her find her son. She knows she looks weird buying all those lights, and she would never ask for special favors on another day even though she deserves them, but it's her kid at stake so she'll do anything.
Using Those Lights
Many of the things that make Joyce such a fantastic parent also make others in her community question her sanity. When she installs Christmas lights through the house to talk with her son, everyone thinks she's lost her mind. The internet even responded with many a meme about Joyce's light obsession, knowing that it actually helped her communicate with him.
Joyce gave zero cares about looking unhinged in her community when it came to finding a way to communicate with Will, even if it also meant destroying her house in the process. if she had given up, Joyce may have never found her missing son.
Hacking Through Her Own Wall
It looked like madness to anyone watching it, even to her own son and ex-husband, but Joyce Byers certainly didn't care. She knew that Will was still there with her and she wouldn't rest until every last act she could take to find him was exhausted.
Many people might have chalked the experience to a tired mind and written it off, certainly not hacking through the wall of their old home, especially when they can't afford to fix it. However, Joyce is a good mother who would do whatever it takes to get her son back, including taking the chance that he was somehow in the walls of her house.
Offering Support While Eleven Explored The Upside Down
While it's disturbing that the adults would allow Eleven to search for Will in the Upside Down in the first place, Joyce and Hopper certainly didn't understand how terrible the place was until they entered it themselves. The scene where El is scared out of her mind while searching for Barb and Will is so poignant because Joyce is there as her anchor, providing the support and love of a mother for the first time in El's life.
It's clear how much this means to El, and it helps to create a bond that will last until the third season when Joyce adopts Eleven as her own daughter after Hopper's demise...or disappearance.
Taking In Eleven
By adopting El at the end of the third season, Joyce demonstrates just what a fierce mother and good person she is. She doesn't have much money and she's moving her family away from the town filled with horrible memories all on her own, yet she's still willing to take on another mouth to feed not only because it's the right thing to do, but because she loves Eleven.
Seeing Hop and Joyce share a family with all three kids would have fulfilled many a fan fantasy, but knowing El is in Joyce's hands is the reassurance we needed after Eleven lost the only real father figure she's ever had.