It was an important gathering in other ways too. Since becoming a mother, I have spent a lot of time thinking about how isolating motherhood is in Western society. We are often tied to the house, constrained by our children’s nap schedules or by our own exhaustion. On the rare occasion we do make it out, we often feel unwelcome. People treat us and our noisy, messy children as an unwelcome inconvenience in their otherwise quiet lives. Public breastfeeding is considered indecent exposure. Restaurants, shops, and even public spaces make little effort to provide changing tables, high chairs, or any of the other equipment required to make life with children easier. On one occasion, I remember being chased from a restaurant terrace with the feeble excuse that they did not have room for strollers (it was practically empty). 

On the other hand, I have never been one for Chuck E Cheese or ball pit parties. I want to have an adult social life, and I want to feel that I have permission to include my children in it if I need to. This is what I set out to create with Hera’s launch: an event where parents could meet and socialize (and have a drink or two) but where children were equally welcome. Apart from the fact that my feet hurt terribly after holding a 30-pound toddler on my hip the whole time, I think we pulled it off!

Dr. Giulietta of Ceybon was serving up her magical mushroom elixirs and keeping us all slightly euphoric. The Martha Stouman meyer lemon natural wine spritzers were wonderfully easy to drink with a baby on the hip and compatible with undyed, ivory-colored clothing. Even our expecting mama guests didn’t feel left out thanks to Joyus’s non-alcoholic sparkling wine (which seriously tastes like the real deal). 

Hera has come a long way this past year, but launch is just the beginning! I look forward to seeing what the next year has in store. 

Thank you all for being such wonderful supporters and friends.