My Story

My children were raised with personal devices until the ages of 10 and 6 years old. Like many young parents, I thought I was doing the right thing giving my kids tablets. After all, they were using “educational” apps. Plus, let’s be honest, it sure made it easier when shopping or on long car rides.

During the pandemic, my family experienced a screen takeover through remote school and virtual play dates. By June 2021, screen use was out of control, and that summer my husband Joe and I made the decision to try a 30-Day Digital Detox. The transformation in our family was truly life changing. We made the decision to sell our children’s personal devices and haven’t looked back.  

Today, my children are thriving in the real world without smartphones, social media and video games. As a family, we have chosen live out ScreenStrong’s core values: to remove video games from our home, delay smartphones and social media for our kids, and to use childhood as a time to develop life skills and hobbies as well as deepen family connection. Change is possible.

I bring more than 20 years of teaching experience to my work and hold a master’s degree in Cultural and Educational Policy Studies from Loyola University Chicago. I am passionate about sharing ScreenStrong’s message of delaying toxic screens, particularly with families parenting children with special needs, as well as with foster and adoptive families.

I am a ScreenStrong Speaking Ambassador alongside my husband, Joe, and we are available for tandem presentations that weave our personal story with both mom and dad perspectives.