My friend Judy took all the kids to El Nido while I stayed home so I could get some work done and embark upon cleanfest 2018 for my mom’s visit on Monday. I can’t believe it’s already been 5 months since we moved to the island capital! During that time I’ve been with the kids 24/7 (literally since Olive sleeps with me and Charlie is homeschooled), and this introvert has been in desperate need of alone time, even if it means I’ll be running errands and cleaning most of the time! 3 days kid-free. Hoping to squeeze in a viewing of Bohemian Rhapsody. Adult movies are one of the biggest guiltiest pleasures for me!

solitude

Tons of parenting links this week!

H E A L T H

WARNING: My Child Was Sleep Deprived & It Disguised Itself as ADHD via For Every Mom

The Significance of Michelle Obama’s Fertility Story via The Atlantic

A mother is sharing the story of her 17-month-old’s death to warn parents about the potential dangers of car seats via Insider

If Only Everyone Had a Postpartum Doula via New York Times

11 things parents need to know about RSV via Motherly

How RSV changed the way I parent via Motherly

For a Child’s Cough, the Best Medicine Is No Medicine via New York Times

10 little things you’re doing that are negatively affecting your fertility via The Insider

E D U C A T I O N

There’s a very good reason why children like to read the same story over and over again via World Economic Forum

Silicon Valley’s tech-free Waldorf School is a hit via The Times

The Backlash Against Screen Time at School via The Atlantic

‘School is very oppressive’: why home-schooling is on the rise via The Guardian

Can Diverse Books Save Us? In a divided world, librarians are on a mission via School Library Journal

Teach Your Kids Empathy With These Old-School Chapter Books  via Lifehacker

P A R E N T I N G

Spanking Is Still Really Common and Still Really Bad for Kids via The Atlantic

Detailed New National Maps Show How Neighborhoods Shape Children for Life via New York Times

A Dark Consensus About Screens and Kids Begins to Emerge in Silicon Valley via New York Times

Why timeouts make tantrums + power struggles worse via Motherly

The Play Deficit via Aeon

American Meritocracy Is Killing Youth Sports via The Atlantic

Excerpt: Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the power of ‘difficult women’ via National Geographic

Adoptions fall by 62% as IVF success rises via BBC

20 phrases to use when your child isn’t listening via Motherly

We quit screen time completely—and it saved our kids via Motherly

Should Childhood Trauma Be Treated As A Public Health Crisis? via NPR

6 Waldorf-inspired principles every family should adopt via Motherly

Why Every Parent or Student Should Read This Book via Inc.

Talk to your baby like you talk to your dog via CNN

Watch Dialogue-Free Animated Shows With Your Kids via Lifehacker

Every City Should Have a Toy Library via The Atlantic

My husband and I disagree about what is safe for our toddler. How can we find common ground? via Washington Post

Does being a doctor make me a better parent? via The Guardian

More mothers breastfeeding in states with paid leave laws, says study via Motherly

Why Mini-Me Dressing Is Big Business via Business of Fashion

Netflix Christmas Movie Guide via Sunshine Momma