Anna Watson Carl

Like many naïve first-time parents, I had no idea just how life-altering having a baby would be. Sure, I knew there would be less sleep, less time, and many more messes to clean, but I figured that the baby would just sort of fit into my already-busy life, like a cute accessory. Boy was I wrong. In the months after my daughter was born, my days were fully occupied just trying to feed her and myself, and maybe sneak in a shower or a nap.

Twelve years ago, when I was young, single, and living in Nashville, Tennessee, I began hosting a weekly Tuesday night dinner party. My friends knew they had a standing invite to come over around 7 p.m. for dinner. They brought the wine; I made the food. To help cover the cost of ingredients, everyone generously threw in a few dollars.