Shira was genuinely shocked. Was her mother-in-law really changing, or was she imagining it? Or maybe she was just that desperate to get rid of them

Podcast: “I think that every single one of us has been in denial at least once.” —Angela Duckworth, No Stupid Questions Ep:95

Shira looked around the room. She’d been vegging all day and had no energy to schlep the kids out now.

“We wave the flag and dance with the Torah,” Racheli was telling her dolls.

Shira sighed. The things we do for kids. If it were up to her, she’d stay home, even though it was Simchas Torah. New town, new people, supposed to be sociable and smiley when she had no one to do it with. Adulting was hard.

She flipped through her closet. Where was that green dress her mother had said looked so good on her? It had been so nice to spend time with her parents and sisters. She missed the schmoozing, the sitting at the table, listening to everyone talk without feeling a need to say anything, to prove anything. She belonged.

Also, her sisters totally doted on Racheli and Dovi, she didn’t have to ask them for help, they actually wanted to. Not being a burden — priceless.

“And Tatty will throw you up in the air by Moshe Emes,” Racheli continued her instructions.

Dovi started crying. “No Tatty throw!”

Seriously? Kids.

“Totty’s not gonna throw you,” Shira patted Dovi consolingly.

“Yes, he will,” Racheli insisted. Dovi continued crying.

“If you don’t want him to, he won’t, Tatty would never hurt you.” Shira stroked his hair, trying to ignore the biting thought that Ephraim was hurting her. Not purposefully, she quickly amended, but still.