The topic of raising kids in a screen-centric world is something parents navigate every single day. But it’s rarely something we get to unpack in an honest, candid way—sharing what’s actually working in our homes, where we’re struggling, what boundaries we’ve held firm on, and what we wish we’d done differently along the way.

Recently, Clearspace created space for exactly that kind of conversation. Together with MOTHER, they hosted an intimate San Francisco gathering for moms raising kids ages 8 to 15—a morning designed not around perfection or prescriptions, but openness, reflection, and connection.

The event began with a grounding soundbath led by Chun-mui Miller and Shireen Jarrahian, followed by nourishing bites from Smash Foods (created by Rivera’s Boulevard), alongside tea from Lady Falcon Coffee Club and The Republic of Tea. Wrapped in cozy blankets from Parachute, moms opened up about the realities of parenting through the smartphone era.

Some shared that they’ve maintained strict no-screen rules well into middle school, while others admitted they introduced devices earlier than planned—often out of necessity, social pressure, or simply pandemic-era survival. One mom described a family “device closet” that opens and closes around dinner time, while another shared how screen-free Sundays have become a reset for her household. Others talked about no-screen weekdays paired with more relaxed weekends, or the ongoing challenge of balancing independence with oversight as kids get older.

Throughout the conversation, moms spoke candidly about the tension of embracing the positives of technology while still trying to create meaningful guardrails around it. Many reflected on the emotional push and pull of wanting to preserve childhood while also preparing kids for a deeply digital world.

What became clear throughout the morning was this: there’s no single “right” approach. Every family is figuring it out in real time. But creating judgment-free spaces to share experiences, ask hard questions, and feel a little less alone in the process? That part feels essential.

To help continue these important conversations at home, guests also took home copies of The Anxious Generation—Jonathan Haidt’s influential bestseller examining the rise of anxiety, depression, and screen dependence among young people. The book holds particular meaning for Royce Branning and Oliver Hill, the co-founders of Clearspace, who belong to the very generation now navigating parenthood in the smartphone era themselves. Guests also received the companion title for tweens, The Amazing Generation, co-authored by Catherine Price and illustrated by Cynthia Yuan Cheng.

Take a look at 60+ photos from our Clearspace x MOTHER gathering below—and join the conversation with Clearspace on WhatsApp and Substack.