Kids are a blessing. And also a pain in the ... tush. That's why a hilarious, tongue-in-cheek "test" on whether a couple is ready for parenthood is quickly going viral. Here are my top 5 favorite parenting preparation tips from the quiz (which was written by an anonymous British[?] blogger):

"Go to the supermarket. Arrange to have your salary directly paid to its head office." No big deal, right?

"Sing songs in the dark until 4 a.m.... Put the alarm on for 5 a.m. Get up when it goes off... Make breakfast... Keep this up for 5 years and LOOK CHEERFUL." Awesome.

"Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment. Leave it there...Get a coin. Insert it into the CD player...Take a box of chocolate biscuits. Mash them into the back seat." Who doesn't love chocolate... everywhere?

"Repeat everything you say at least five times." Say again?

"Make a recording of someone shouting 'Mummy' repeatedly. Important notes: there must not be more than a four-second delay between each Mummy, and include occasional crescendos to the level of a supersonic jet." So special.

And that's just a taste of the "test." (The "Going for a Walk" and "Getting Ready for Work" tips are also great.) Any "Mummy" or mommy, or daddy should appreciate it. Any parents-to-be should, well, curl up in a ball and cry. HA! Just kidding. Sort of.

When you are actually ready for a bundle of joy (or another one), lots of great tips here.

P.S. -- Huge "thank you" to my parents.

For the first time since at least the 1970s, injury rates for little kids are on the rise. Could it have something to do with the boom in smartphone sales, and the resulting wave of parental distraction? Hold on... need to check my Facebook feed.

The Wall Street Journal recently reported about "The Perils of Texting While Parenting," noting: "Nonfatal injuries to children under age five rose 12% between 2007 and 2010, after falling for much of the prior decade, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, based on emergency-room records. The number of Americans 13 and older who own a smartphone such as an iPhone or BlackBerry has grown from almost 9 million in mid-2007, when Apple introduced its device, to 63 million at the end of 2010 and 114 million in July 2012, according to research firm comScore."

We've all seen (or been?) the parents, nannies, and babysitters with their eyes glued to their smartphone for anywhere from seconds to minutes while a child does their own thing -- on a playground, a city sidewalk, or in a busy public place. And we all know how long it takes for a child to get hurt or lost (split seconds). Most of us are smart enough to realize that's a dangerous combination. But... hold on. I just got a text.

Does your little one snore? It's far cuter than your hubby sawing logs, so you probably don't think too much of it. But a new study by Cincinnati Children's Hospital shows that children who snore persistently at age 2 and 3 are 3.5 times more likely to have behavioral problems like aggression and hyperactivity. And that's not cute!

The study examined 249 mother-child pairs. Of the children who snored throughout years 2 and 3 of their life, 35 percent showed behavior issues, compared with just 10 percent of non-snorers who displayed a noticeable naughty side. (Moms were interviewed and kids were observed over time for the study.)  

The researchers found that the tots who weren't breastfed were more likely to snore, and being from a lower socioeconomic background also meant a higher likelihood of snoring. Those kids may face more colds and allergies, which contribute to snoring.

Snoring indicates trouble breathing during sleep, therefore low-quality sleep. And, as you know, poor sleep can lead to a grouchy, punchy wild child -- so the study's findings are no surprise. If your youngster persistently snores, discuss the possible causes and sleep solutions with your pediatrician.

My toddler loves to paint and with Valentine's Day coming up we decided to make some easy heart prints using our silicone pan .

You will need some paint, construction paper, a paint brush and a heart silicon mold.

Paint the bottom of the mold.

Press the paper on.

Peel off and dry.

My daughter was ecstatic to see she made hearts!

I love our water table but it's big and it's outside. When I only had one kid I could set up the container and have fun on the kitchen floor because as much as he liked water he didn't like getting wet. So we didn't have to be real careful about where we played with water since he was careful himself.

My daughter loves water. She loves it all over , and loves getting wet.

When I shared how I let her play with a tub without filling the whole bath tub a girlfriend said she'd never thought of doing this , a sure fire sign I should write a post about it.

There isn't much to it other than using a light weight container,  putting the kids in clothes they can get wet, making sure you have non slip pads on the bath and letting them go splashing and pouring and not worrying about mess. Free exploration where an adult isn't constantly saying " keep it in the bucket, ack don't do this, no no don't do that.." is really important and this is a great way to do it.

We just love to compare ourselves to the French (case in point: the best-selling book French Women Don't Get Fat). Now a new book coming out next month, Bringing Up Bebe, highlights how parenting in France is superior (or at least a lot less "fussy" and "stressy") to that in the States.

While yet another book comparing the French to Americans sounds like one more great opportunity to pour a glass of wine, curl up in a cozy chair, and hate ourselves, I think this book might offer some amazing insight.

This article teasing the book mentions some really good points (generalizations, I realize):

Little girls love to play Mommy with their dolls, but does the new "breastfeeding doll" go too far? The nation seems divided.  

"Bebe Gloton" ("hungry baby" in Spanish) has caused quite a stir in the few months since the Spanish toy company Berjuan released it to the U.S. market. The doll comes with an apron-like top to mimic a bra, and the top has brightly colored flowers to mimic nipples (although the doll doesn't "latch on"). The doll's lips, like most dolls', are puckered and ready for feeding. The doll makes a sucking sound when it is being "fed" and burps when it's done.

So... Some people love it, some people hate it. Even the YouTube video of a girl demonstrating Bebe Gloton has an almost equal number of "likes" and "dislikes."

Let's take a look at the gist of the mixed reviews:

One of the most common questions I get from parents is what to do when their kids put art materials in their mouths. My responses are always to watch carefully, avoid choking hazards, use only materials from companies they trust ( I am a Crayola devotee, and no I wasn't paid to say that! ), but there is another option... edible paint!

This is great for any age but I specifically like it for babies and toddlers who are still genuinely and appropriately exploring with their mouths.

You will need some plain yogurt, food coloring, containers, a spoon, a bib or smock and a few wet cloths for clean up.

Start by mixing a few colors into the yogurt. I like using plain yogurt because it's not as sticky as flavored - and anything to make clean up easier is worth it.

Next give them a little to explore.

Add more colors.

If they eat it no biggie!

I love it when simple activities like this one can bring together multiple lessons. This craft can be done by the very youngest toddler but is still fun for a 5 year old. Exploring the color mixing is the main lesson but learning about bugs, as well as older children can also be challenged by doing the cutting.

When your 18 month old walks in your shoes, or when your 3 year old turns the kitchen chairs into a bus they aren't just messing with your things. They are practicing rules, social conventions and learning more than one would think at first.

In order to support this I urge all families to have a dress up bin! It doesn't have to be huge or cost you much to set up either. Here are my 3 must haves for every dress up bin: