A Morning with Seen Library

Here at EADEM, we’re constantly inspired by our community. Creating spaces where people can gather, connect, and engage in meaningful conversation is something we value deeply. We’ve long admired Jordan Risa-Santos’ Seen Library events from afar, and a few weeks ago, we were fortunate enough to experience one firsthand at Juliet in Los Angeles.

If you’re unfamiliar with Seen Library, we encourage you to revisit our past Laying it Bare conversation with Jordan. Each Seen Library gathering revolves around a thoughtfully chosen theme, with books carefully selected to spark reflection and connection. This particular evening was dedicated to celebrating mothers of all ages and the many forms that motherhood can take.

As a new mother myself, there was something immediately comforting about sitting around the table with fellow mothers. The conversations unfolded with an ease that allowed everyone to speak honestly, listen closely, and share pieces of themselves. For a few hours, I felt exactly what the event’s name promises: seen. Seen, heard, and celebrated.

When it came time to choose a book, I found myself naturally drawn to one centered on the relationship between a mother and her son. There’s a particular thrill in unwrapping a book you’ve never encountered before, allowing chance to guide you toward a story. To my surprise, I had selected Leavers, a novel by Lisa Ko that follows an undocumented Chinese immigrant mother whose sudden disappearance leaves her son searching for answers.

What stayed with me long after the evening ended wasn’t just the book I brought home, but the reminder that stories have a unique ability to bridge experiences that might otherwise feel impossible to articulate. Around the table were women at different stages of life, with different relationships to motherhood, yet literature created a common language through which we could share our perspectives.

In an era where so much of our interaction happens through screens, there is something special about gathering in person to discuss a book, exchange ideas, and listen without interruption. Seen Library creates space for that kind of presence—one where curiosity is valued over certainty and connection emerges naturally through conversation.

As I left Juliet that afternoon, book tucked under my arm, I found myself thinking about the many ways we care for one another: through stories passed between friends, thoughtful recommendations, and making room for someone else’s experience. It felt like a fitting celebration of motherhood. Not as a singular experience, but as an ongoing practice of empathy, generosity, and understanding.