Hey parents, welcome to the conversation we all secretly dread (and then secretly love). You know the moment. The one where your child looks at you like you just canceled Christmas, birthday, and ice cream for the rest of their life combined:

“What? No iPad?!”

Cue the dramatic sigh, the floppy dramatic collapse onto the floor, and the Oscar-worthy performance of “I’m so bored I might actually die.”

In this topic series, we’re going to laugh our way through one of the biggest modern parenting battles, screens; while keeping it real, light, and (dare I say) Montessori-inspired. Because after raising four kids and running schools for decades, I’ve learned this truth the fun way: screens aren’t the enemy… but handing them over like a pacifier every time things get quiet? That’s where we get into trouble.

Here’s the heart of it:

Kids need to be bored.

Like, gloriously, squirmingly, “there’s-nothing-to-do” bored.

Boredom is the secret doorway to creativity, problem-solving, deep play, and all those wonderful “I just built a fort out of couch cushions and now I’m a pirate astronaut” moments. When we rush in with a screen every single time the whining starts, we’re accidentally stealing that magic from them. We’re doing them a disservice, even if it buys us 20 minutes of peace to answer emails.

And yes… we have to look in the mirror too.

Our kids are watching. If they see us glued to our phones during dinner, in the car, or the second we sit down, they learn that boredom is something to be fixed instantly with a glowing rectangle. So this series isn’t about being screen-free saints (ha!). It’s about being intentional; modeling balance, setting kind but firm boundaries, and rediscovering the joy of a slower, richer family life.

Over the next several weeks we’ll cover everything from:

• The “No iPad” meltdown survival guide
• What age-appropriate screen rules actually look like (and stick!)
• How to handle playdates, car rides, restaurants, and rainy days without reaching for the tablet
• Why boredom feels painful at first… and why that’s a good thing
• Real stories from our MPO6 crew (including the time one of our kids turned an empty cardboard box into a three-day obsession)
• And yes, how we as parents can put our own phones down without losing our minds

So if you’re tired of the guilt, the battles, or the feeling that your child can’t function without a device… you’re in the right place. Grab a snack (maybe one the kids haven’t hidden), take a deep breath, and let’s turn “What, No iPad?” into “Wow… look what they just created!” Because the best childhood adventures usually start the moment the screen goes dark.

Ready? Let’s do this (mostly screen-free) thing. — Colleen

(And the rest of the MPO6 crew, who still occasionally stage iPad protests… but are getting pretty good at fort-building)