“Everything we ever needed to know about parenting we learned in middle school math and science class … only we didn’t realize it then because we were too busy chasing boys to actually pay attention to whatever the teacher was going on and on and on about. But we must have absorbed something through osmosis … or is it photosynthesis? Well, it’s definitely one of these “ois”’s or “esis”’s because once we caught our boys (er, husbands) … and then, incredibly, gave birth to two more, it all came back to us, like in one of those pricey SAT prep courses.

Turns out, those smarties Newton and Einstein and the rest of their science and math geek pals not only understood how the world works, they knew a little something about what it’s like to be a frazzled, sleep-deprived parent who’s just one PBJ shy of going all Linda Blair in that head-spin scene from The Exorcist.

If you’ve ever wondered how a kid can possibly lose so many Star Wars thermoses — at $16 a pop, mind you — or marveled that the same kid who can play Mario Galaxy for hours without a single bathroom break cannot sit still for 10 freakin’ minutes to finish a math worksheet, then Science of Parenthood — named one of Parenting.com’s “blogs every parent should read” — is for you. Think of it as better parenting through science … and humor that will make you lose whatever bladder control you might have left.”

Science of Parenthood was created in 2013 by magazine writer Norine Dworkin-McDaniel and illustrator/web developer Jessica Ziegler.

I had the privilege of spending some time getting to know these amazing ladies at BlogHer and am excited about their recent book, Science of Parenthood: Thoroughly Unscientific Explanations for Utterly Baffling Parenting Situations. The book takes the duo’s mix of high-brow science and low-brow humor to a whole new level. Using their trademark brand of quirky, witty humor, and bolstered by their signature cartoons, Dworkin-McDaniel and Ziegler dig deep into the core sciences―biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics―to help moms and dads everywhere solve for “y.” As in, “Y” is my child doing that . . . that . . . THING? And please, dear lord, is there a way to make them stop!? Anyone who’s ever wondered why the kid who plays Minecraft for hours can’t sit still for ten damn minutes to finish a math worksheet; who’s marveled at how their toddler always picks the most inopportune moment to poop; or who’s despaired of ever showering, sleeping, or finding a moment’s peace again will find this book a hilarious, enlightening, and relatable read.

I hope you will grab a copy for every parent you know this holiday season and be sure to gift yourself one too. It just might save your sanity during Aunt Ethel’s eggnog induced rendition of I’ll Be Home For Christmas.