The final month of 2016 is already here! Did it whiz by for you too? We’re busy getting ready for Charlie’s 7th birthday next week. He’s asked to have a small Pokemon themed camping party with some of his closest friends and family, so that’s what we’re going to do. He has grown and changed so much in our year here in the Philippines, and I’m so proud of my little man.

Here are some recent parenting links I’ve found interesting:

P R E G N A N C Y

Laughing Gas Instead of Epidurals for Labor Pain Is Becoming a Thing via Mom.me

A Lotus Birth Gave This Mom the Most Amazing New Baby Photo via Parents (PS I had a lotus birth with Olive too but didn’t take a picture of it!)

P A R E N T I N G

How to raise kinder, less entitled kids (according to science) via Washington Post

This Revolutionary Parenting Insight Will Help Your Love Life via NY Mag

Traces of Times Lost: How childhood memories shape us, even after we’ve forgotten them via The Atlantic

Science says parents of successful kids have these 13 things in common via Business Insider

A mom’s heartbreaking letter to the doctor who never ‘told her the truth’ about her baby. via Upworthy

Fewer Americans, Red and Blue, Are Spanking Their Children via Slate

E D U C A T I O N

Can a child who starts kindergarten with few reading or math skills catch up? via LA Times

Study links behavior in kindergarten to adult success via CNN

Students Have ‘Dismaying’ Inability To Tell Fake News From Real, Study Finds via NPR

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Three Tools for Teaching Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills via Mindshift

Empathy by the Book: How Fiction Affects Behavior via Wall Street Journal

When Finnish Teachers Work in America’s Public Schools via The Atlantic

H E A L T H

Breakfast cereal’s last gasp via The Atlantic

A Former Abortion Doula Explains Why an IUD Might Be Right For You via Jezebel

Newborn Sleep: A discussion with Elizabeth Pantley via Kellymom

PSA: Kids Shouldn’t Wear Winter Coats In Their Car Seat via Lifehacker

What Grandmothers Can Teach Science About Autism via The Atlantic

Why it’s not “Rain Woman” via The Economist

Why Your Kids Need to Be Able to Do This by Their 5th Birthday via Popsugar

H O M E

Is it Possible to Declutter When You Have Kids? See Why Minimalism Expert Marie Kondo Says Yes via Popsugar

This is the Best Stain Remover You Can Buy via Tiphero (we concur and blogged about it here!)