My heart-stopping, norms-defying, brave, socially Off quest for a chevreh, a Shalosh Seudos plan, and friendship 

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I tuck my three-year-old daughter under her pink heart blanket in her throne-like princess bed (first girl after a slew of boys, don’t judge), I listen lovingly as she recounts her day at school.

“Today we played in the gym because Morah said it was going to rain and then we sang the rain song. And then we sang the Sefiras Ha’omer song. Should I sing it to you again?”

She then launches into the Sefiras Ha’omer song that seamlessly, and surprisingly, melds into “The Yidden Go Marching Out of Mitzrayim.” After I confirm that we’re still the Yidden and that Pharaoh is still the bad guy, she ends her monologue by telling me that today she had not hit Talia or Tzivia and that she didn’t put sand in Moshe’s eyes. “I’m a nice friend,” she concluded.

“Devorah,” I begin, “you really are a nice friend! It’s so great that you didn’t hit your friends or put sand in their eyes today!”

Devorah beams.

“Your friends are lucky to have you!”

“Your friends are lucky, too, Mommy.” Devorah smiles sweetly at me.

I pause. Gosh, Devorah. Blushing over here.

“That was nice of you to say and made Mommy feel so special. I’m curious though, do you know who Mommy’s friends are?”

Without missing a beat, she responds. “Naama. And Shoshana.”

Naama and Shoshana. Don’t get me wrong. They’re great and all… but they’re also my teenage babysitters.