We Jews are not a solitary lot. We come together to pray, welcome new life, mourn our losses, celebrate our holidays, and raise our children.

They say it takes a village to raise a child — and I say it takes a shtetl to stay sane while we raise said child. Oh, and that shtetl is not optional! We need our tribe if we’re going to make it through this parenting gig without losing our shit (which, coincidentally, is the title of my new book). Hanging out with friendly, supportive adults — maybe a spouse, a friend, or a nice parent at the playground who doesn’t give you the side eye when your kid is being a punk —  makes parenting easier, less stressful, and more fun.

Read the rest of this article that I wrote over on Kveller.