Fatherhood Factor

For all the "dealings" of dads...

Emily Joswiak

Common Reasons Your Engine Is Overheating

By Leave a Comment

It’s summertime, and with summer comes unbearable heat. This oppressive heat isn’t just suffocating to humans—it can also suffocate cars. The risk of your car overheating is at its highest in summer. But external temperatures aren’t the only factor that contributes to overheating. Here are some common reasons your engine is overheating and some tips on how to detect it early on.

Troublesome Thermostat

The thermostat in your car is, in some ways, like your thermostat at home. At home, your thermostat measures the temperature and uses it to decide whether the AC should run.

Your car’s thermostat, on the other hand, is both a temperature measuring device and a valve that controls the flow of coolant. It measures the temperature and uses it to decide whether the valve should open or stay closed. When the engine starts to overheat, the valve opens and sends coolant into the engine to cool it down.

But if the thermostat is broken, it may not register that the engine is overheating and fail to open the valve. This means coolant can’t pass through and cool the engine down, which results in the engine getting hotter and hotter until it eventually fails.

Not Enough Coolant

Another common reason your engine is overheating is a lack of coolant. Coolant, as the name suggests, plays a huge role in keeping your engine cool. It’s a heat transfer fluid that removes heat from the engine to keep it from overheating. But if there isn’t enough coolant in the coolant reservoir, the chances of your engine overheating skyrocket.

Several factors can cause a lack of coolant. This includes blocked coolant passageways, coolant leaks, incorrectly diluted coolant, and even the wrong type of coolant. If you notice a green, orange, pink, or blue puddle under your car, bring it into a mechanic to have it inspected for leaks. Think you might have another problem with the coolant? Your local mechanic can help with that, too.

Rowdy Radiator

The radiator is an important part of the engine’s cooling system. Once the coolant has carried heat away from the engine block, it moves to the radiator, where it passes through thin metal fins that transfer the heat outside your car. Sometimes, the radiator also includes a small fan that blows on the coolant to reduce its temperature.

If the radiator is broken, it can result in the coolant not cooling down enough. This, in turn, can lead to overheating. Think the radiator is your culprit? Examine the radiator fan for broken blades or an unstable connection. Both problems can prevent the radiator from doing its job.

How Do I Prevent Overheating?

Regular maintenance can help you detect and fix potential problems with the cooling system. But sometimes, the engine overheats without warning. Installing a pyrometer gauge, which allows you to closely monitor the engine’s temperature, can make it easier to identify early signs of overheating on the road.

Best Temperature for Bodily Function During a Workout

By Leave a Comment

Rarely remaining static for too long, the body is a fantastic system that can regulate itself. Having the ability to maintain itself through different processes allows for this self-regulation. Through a process of elimination and statistical study, we can determine without question the best temperature for bodily function during a workout.

Regulating the Body

The body’s natural mechanism of regulation is more formally known as thermoregulation. A perfect example of this is warming up for exercise. Whenever you warm up, the blood from your core rushes into your musculoskeletal system and cardiovascular system all at once. This primes the body for activity and, in turn, slightly raises the temperature of the body, activating it for whatever it needs to get done.

The Ideal Temperature

Certain things will happen whenever the body is under stress. If the body is too hot, it will cool itself, and whenever it’s too cold, it will warm itself. The body prefers to be in a state of comfort, so in order to achieve this, it works to keep itself within a certain temperature range. Studies show that this range is somewhere between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit, or roughly 37 degrees Celsius.

Dressing in Layers

It’s important that you pay careful attention to the weather forecast and terrain for your outdoor activities. Wearing the proper clothing keeps the body well-regulated and comfortable. In recreation such as skiing or snowboarding, for example, dressing in layers to better help the body regulate its temperature might be ideal. You’ll need fewer layers in warmer weather, so for hiking in summer temps, you might only want shorts and a tank top or T-shirt.

The next time you’re shivering in the cold as your body works to warm itself or sweating uncontrollably after a nice workout, you’ll now recognize thermoregulation in action. It’s important to know what your body is doing so that you can act accordingly to the elements. Therefore, everyone should know the best temperature for bodily function during a workout or during rest periods.

What First-Time Parents Need to Know

By Leave a Comment

Being a parent for the first time is an exhilarating, joyful, complicated, and often messy experience. You may feel a little lost and confused, but holding and nurturing your child makes it all worth it. As you watch your newborn grow and interact with the world around them, there are a few things to prepare for as a new parent. Here’s what first-time parents need to know; be the best dad you can be with these tips.

Bringing Home Baby

The first few weeks are chaotic. You’re on the baby’s schedule now; you sleep when they sleep. If the little one needs a bottle or a diaper change, they will let you know—and loudly. If there were complications at birth, like breech positioning or hip dysplasia, your baby may need extra care. Stay in contact with those who delivered the baby, whether that’s the hospital obstetrician or the doula or midwife who assisted at a home birth. Their specialized knowledge will lend you support during those first weeks and months.

Keeping Them Clean

For the first month, give your baby sponge baths in the sink two or three times a week (everyday baths can dry out their delicate skin). Use gentle soap specially formulated for baby skin and hair. Continue with sponge baths until the umbilical cord falls off and the navel completely heals. If you had your little one circumcised, make sure it has completely healed as well before transitioning to tub baths.

Bonding and Nurturing

Your baby needs lots of love and affection; babies who don’t receive adequate cuddles in their first two years of life can develop attachment issues later on. Take care to support their head and neck when you hold them, and always wash your hands first. Many parents find skin-to-skin contact with their baby particularly powerful in bonding. And make sure to talk and sing to them often! Babies love gentle, soothing sounds. Talking to your baby also aids in their development—get them used to hearing words.

Parenthood is a monumental undertaking, and doing it for the first time comes with a learning curve. You’ll need extra support from your community and your little one’s doctor; don’t be afraid to ask for advice. Remember: your baby is also new to all of this, so you’re having these experiences together. These reminders are just a taste of what first-time parents need to know, but keep these basics in mind as you bond with your little one.

How Cars Can Connect You With Your Kids

By Leave a Comment

If you’re looking for a way to better connect with your kids, consider the many ways your car can bring you together. Along with transportation, cars can be excellent opportunities to teach kids lessons they can carry through life, as well as happy memories they can share with their children in turn. Pull the car out of the garage and get ready to have fun and several wonderful family moments. Here’s a variety of ways how cars can connect you with your kids.

Take Them on Trips

For getting out and having one on one time with your progeny, nothing beats a road trip. Not only does the time on the road allow for great conversations, travelling games, and lots of delicious road food meals together, but it’s also truly an experience you can all share and enjoy. Find a central destination like the Grand Canyon or Washington, DC, and plot a trip, looking for sites and sights of interest to everyone. Work together to prepare the car for the trip, pack, and plan the snack options and entertainment for the ride. When the day comes to hit the road, it will truly feel like a family trip.

Wash the Car

Washing the car is one of the few vehicular activities any age can enjoy. Appoint duties according to age group. Little ones will have a blast wetting down and rinsing the car with the garden hose and can even man a sponge while washing the car’s exterior. Tweens can be trusted to wash the exterior and parts of the interior and can be the official vacuum operators for the entire car-washing operation. Teenagers, of course, can learn the importance of detailing and treating specific parts like tires, car seat covers, floor mats, dashboards, and the like with special solutions and tools for getting that deep-down clean. With proper supervision, you can save on a car wash while having a silly and fun time with the children.

Teach Basic Maintenance

Every generation should learn the basics of car maintenance. Little ones will love a look under the hood, where you can point out the different parts of the engine and their functions. Do it when the engine is turned off and cool in case little fingers accidentally touch a hot part. Your teens might be fascinated by the steps to take during minor jobs like changing the oil, removing and replacing filters, filling up the wipe fluid tank, and more. If you have the time, explain the importance of tires and keeping them inflated and show how to change one.

Learning To Drive

Restrict this one to teenagers with driver’s permits! When considering how cars can connect you with your kids, don’t forget this timeless interaction between parent and child. Taking your child on periodic test drives to sharpen their skills, remind them about road safety, and make them feel more confident in their abilities is a rite of passage for you both. Just remember to keep your cool!

The Best Graduation Presents for the Teen in Your Life

By Leave a Comment

This year’s graduates deserve a special salute. These students spent most of the year learning remotely, and they had to miss out on special events. For this reason, they deserve a little special something after everything they’ve been through. Here are some of the best graduation presents for the teen in your life that they’ll surely adore.

Drones

Technology lovers should look into getting the top racing drone for their graduates. Drone racing is becoming more and more popular. Teens will have a blast getting out this summer and perfecting their skills. So, think about getting them a drone so you can watch them in their first competition.

Class Ring

Perhaps the teen you know isn’t into technology. There’s no need to worry! You can purchase them a class ring instead. Class rings are so sentimental and something they can look back on with fond memories. Who knows, one day, the item may even become a family heirloom.

TV and Video Game System

Sure, parents might not want their kids to be couch potatoes all summer. However, the point of a gift is to give someone something they wouldn’t normally get themselves. That’s why a TV and video game system is perfect for teens. If they’re headed to college, they can take the mechanisms with them and be the coolest kid in the dorm.

Room Décor

Teenagers don’t want to feel like children. As a result, you could get them something that indicates their transition into adulthood—bedroom décor. Think about buying them a grown-up comforter and art for their walls so they can get rid of their childhood things.

These are only a few of the best graduation presents for the teen in your life. Remember, this year’s seniors deserve something special after the year they’ve had. So, don’t be afraid to splurge a little and show them how proud you are of them for making it through these difficult circumstances.

How Dads-To-Be Can Help on the Day of Delivery

By Leave a Comment

When the due date for your baby arrives, every part of you may want to panic. Take a big breath and focus on learning how dads-to-be can help on the day of delivery. An important note, though: your role will change as the day goes on, so pay attention to cues.

Equipment Manager

For months, your partner has been making lists and packing up a bag for the hospital. But when the contractions start, all planning can go out the window. While she’s trying to navigate the pain, you’re in charge of ensuring that everything gets to the hospital with you. Some things are essential. You’ll need proper identification to check in, and you won’t want to forget the collection kit if you’ve decided to bank the baby’s cord blood. Some things aren’t as critical but definitely help the day go well. A favorite pillow can be a comfort, while a charger will keep your phone ready for those precious first pictures. Make sure you know where everything is because you’ll be in charge of everything from the delivery room song list to the ice chips.

Communications Liaison

You can be a valuable advocate for the mom-to-be by making sure that her needs are met. Hospitals can get chaotic, and once the epidural goes in, your partner won’t be leaving the bed anytime soon. If she needs a nurse, get one. If she needs the doctor, roam the corridors. If she wants more pain medication, get the facts. In some ways, you’ll be an interpreter, especially if the pain gets tough and the doctor doesn’t understand the grunts. Your family and friends will want to know how it’s going, so hold onto the phone so that you can send dispatches from the front.

Cheerleader and Coach

Being supportive won’t be enough. You will need to be a wise, seasoned, Olympic-class coach, even though you have no idea what you’re doing. You’ll be getting a lot of questions, but the more important thing is just to remain calm. Yes, she’s doing it right. No, it’s not too hot in here. Yes, it seems like science should have come up with a better way by now. No, the baby’s still in there. Because you can actually see more of the action than the mother can, she might call on to give some play-on-play narration.

Silent Partner

At some point on the day of delivery, the best way dads-to-be can help is to shut up. The time for stoic assurances is over, and you might receive instructions—rudely, no doubt—to remain silent. It’s common, and it’s not something to take personally. You can still be there so that your partner can squeeze your hand to shreds. If you don’t have an active role for a few minutes, give yourself a break to take it all in. It can be terrifying to bring a new life into the world, but it’s also a miraculous experience you don’t want to miss. Everything is about to change for you.

Best Ways To Protect Your Home From Intruders

By Leave a Comment

There’s nothing more important to a father than keeping his family safe in their home. That’s why we put so much effort into precautionary measures. For those new dads or those who have decided it’s time to really focus on house security, this article on the best ways to protect your home from intruders is just the thing you’re looking for.

Lock All Doors and Windows

When we say that you should lock everything up, we don’t mean you should do it 24/7. We simply mean that you should ensure everything is secure when you leave or when everyone is asleep. Of course, opening some windows or doors on a nice summer day is always nice.

If you feel like you aren’t the best at remembering or checking all the doors and windows, there are products on the market that allow you to do it all with the press of a button. This is especially useful if you are out and can’t recall if you locked everything up before you left.

Light Up Your Front Yard

Most burglars use the cover of night to try to sneak into people’s homes. If you use lights to cover all the entrances to your yard, intruders are much less likely to try to break into your place. One major downside to doing this every night is the increased electric bill. If that is a concern for you, motion-sensor lights will only turn on when someone approaches them.

Set Up a Security System

The options for at-home security systems are practically endless these days. If you want to keep things simple, the standard alarm system route is a tried-and-true method. However, if you are looking for something more comprehensive, many packages include an alarm system, cameras, and automatic locks, all controlled by a simple app. Homes have never been as secure as they are today.

Look Into Self-Defense Options

Sometimes, no matter how secure you make the exterior of your house, some people still manage to find a way inside. That’s why you should have a last line of defense. One of the very best ways to protect your home from intruders is to know how to protect yourself.

One of the most common options for self-defense is to own a firearm. They have the benefit of allowing you to keep your distance, and they provide an inherent fear factor. Most intruders will flee the second they see a gun. However, firearms can be dangerous to have in a house with children in it, so make sure you understand how to be a responsible gun owner.

If you don’t feel like a gun is a good option for your family, look into self-defense classes. There are many different forms out there, so make sure you do your research to figure out which is best for home defense.