Fatherhood Factor

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Emily Joswiak

5 Fun Holiday Traditions to Start With Your Family

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There’s something so magical about getting to spend the holiday with family. Whether you keep it to immediate family or go big with the extended family over throughout the holidays, there’s so much connection to create with loved ones. However, the holiday season tends to fly by in a festive blur, and you may end up—or your kids may end up—feeling like you didn’t truly get to spend any quality time together.

Quality time is one of the most important gifts you can give your children and your family. Lucky for you, the holidays provide many activities and events to get your family connected. To help keep your holiday season from flying by, we listed a few holiday traditions to start with your family—check them out!

Host a Baking Extravaganza

No matter what holiday you celebrate, baking is a surefire way to get your family together and laughing. Decorate Christmas cookies for a day, or make some babka loaves for Hanukkah, then keep a few for yourself and bring the rest to local fire and police stations. Whatever you choose, baking provides an excellent way to spend quality time with your kids.

Have a Holiday Movie Marathon

Chances are we all have at least one movie we consider a holiday classic. Have all the members in your family write down their favorite holiday film, and then watch one each weekend leading up your chosen holiday. If you want to make it extra special, try and watch at least one of the same movies each year. It’ll be something the whole family can look forward to!

Admire the Christmas Lights

One of the best parts about this time of year are all the decorations strewn about. Head to a city and admire the lights everywhere, or just take a drive around the neighborhood to look at all the decorations at night together. Grab some hot chocolate, and take in the beauty together as a family. This is also an excellent way to wind down excitable children for bed time.

Try out an Icelandic Tradition

Typically done on Christmas Eve, this tradition can actually work no matter what holiday you celebrate! Give each family member a book, and spend the rest of the evening reading. Though you won’t talk, reading together is an excellent way to spend quality time with one another. It could lead to wonderful conversation and connection later on, as well.

Play in the Snow

Last on our list deals with getting outside and taking advantage of the weather. Cold weather brings a lot of different activities, so spend time with your family doing those things. Whether you build snowmen, go sledding, have a snowball fight, go skiing, or make snow angels, you can enjoy the fresh air and each other’s company in so many ways.

Try out some of these fun holiday traditions with your family, and watch your relationships grow!

Ways to Keep Your Kids Healthy During Winter

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The holidays are right around the corner, with cold and flu season hot on its tail. Don’t resign yourself to a season of stuffy noses and sore throats. Stave off those pesky winter viruses and plan for a holiday season filled with joy and merriment instead thanks to these helpful ways to keep your kids healthy during winter.

Supplement their diet

If your kids prefer chicken nuggets and pizza over broccoli and beans, it can be hard to ensure they’re receiving their necessary daily nutrients. Supplementing your child’s diet with daily vitamins ensures that they receive the proper nutrients needed to fight off the common cold.

One of the most important vitamins to keep your kids healthy during winter is vitamin D. Vitamin D is mainly absorbed through exposure to sunlight but, because the sunshine is often in short supply during the winter, our bodies may develop a vitamin D deficiency during this time. A vitamin D deficiency can lead to an increased likelihood of contracting a cold or the flu. These can potentially lead to more harmful illnesses, including osteomalacia, osteoporosis, or even rickets—though it is quite rare.

Teach good hygiene habits

Good health begins with good hygiene. Lead by example and teach your kids the importance of proper personal hygiene at an early age. Taking the time together each morning and evening to brush their teeth will help your child get into the habit. Washing your hands before a meal and regularly throughout the day is also a good practice for your children to get in the habit of. Additionally, teach your kids to cover their mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing. Sneezes can travel as far as 200 feet, and covering your sneezes is one of the easiest ways to keep your kids healthy during winter and prevent the spread of germs.

Check the sick policy at your child’s school

Most schools have some sort of policy in place to prevent germs from spreading between classmates. However, some policies are a bit more lenient than others. As such, it’s important to thoroughly consult the policies for your child’s classroom well in advance of flu season. While policies may vary from school to school, in general, most schools require any child with a fever, upper respiratory infection, or symptoms consistent with the flu to stay at home. Keep an eye on your child’s classroom; if you begin to notice that multiple kids are absent from school with an illness or if children are still in class despite obvious flu symptoms, you may need to take additional measures to protect your child from germs.

5 Home Repairs You Should Never Do Yourself

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Dads come in many different shapes and sizes. They all have their own interests and hobbies, but some especially like to do home repairs themselves. For those who like to save money, want to learn something new, or simply want to be handier, there are nonetheless some home repairs you should never do yourself. Leave these to a professional.

Electrical Repairs

Sure, replacing a lightbulb or installing a light fixture is fairly simple, but what about rewiring electrical currents? Electricity is one field no average dad should tackle alone. When it comes to electrical repairs, always go through a professional. Electricians have years of training and handling experience. For the average dad, rewiring gone wrong can send deadly electric currents throughout your body. It could also burn your house down.

Plumbing

Every dad is going to have to unclog a toilet in his life. That doesn’t mean they should tackle every plumbing job they see. If your plumbing system requires professional assistant, don’t try it. A plumber should handle all piping and sewage-related issues. If not, you risk tampering hot water pipes and possibly flooding your house.

Structural Repairs

This one seems obvious, but many fathers try to tackle structural repair projects when they shouldn’t. Amateurs and DIY-ers risk damaging their home’s integrity. A professional should handle all structural repairs, such as tearing down walls. Some of these walls can be loadbearing, and if you were to tear one down without knowing, you risk demolishing the whole house.

Replacing Appliances

This is specifically for gas appliances. For want to replace their stoves, do not try to yourself. Let a professional manage all gas-related jobs. Turning off the gas may be easy, but hooking gas lines improperly can lead to horrible consequences. A gas leak risks explosion or carbon monoxide poisoning. The same thing applies to gas furnaces, ovens, water heaters, or dryers.

Roofing

No one wants to attempt a roof repair only to fall and injure himself. Climbing up and down the side of your roof carrying heavy tools is not the smartest idea if you’re not a professional. Unless you live in a one-story house, chances are high you will need roofers to do it for you. There are other reasons to avoid roofing yourself. You risk further damaging the roof, and you’ll likely waste more money trying to fix it yourself rather than just going straight to a professional.

5 Ways to Celebrate Your Baby’s First Christmas

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The first year of a baby’s life is so important. They’re constantly learning and developing new skills—and they’re adorable! This is also an exciting time for parents. Things can be overwhelming, but there are so many joyous moments, including the baby’s first Christmas. These five ways to celebrate your baby’s first Christmas will help your family create memories that will last a lifetime.

Decorate the Christmas Tree

Decorating the Christmas tree with your baby is a must. It’s such an amazing tradition you know will be around for years to come. If you use a real tree, take your baby with you when you go pick it out. Even though they won’t be able to provide input, including them in what’s sure to become a long-standing tradition will be nice. Once you’ve chosen a tree, decorate with your baby at your side. Don’t forget to pick up a personalized ornament to commemorate your baby’s first Christmas.

Snap a Photo with Santa

Photos with Santa are the best. Make a trip down to the local mall with your baby and go visit Santa—you won’t be sorry. If your photo turns out well, you may be able to use it for a holiday card. If your baby is scared of Santa, you’ll end up with a hilarious photo you’ll cherish for years to come. Don’t forget to share the picture on social media for everyone to see. Use a hashtag under the post, and you might even start trending.

Take Them to See Lights

Take your baby to see festive lights around town. Babies love bright things. You’ll love the expression on their face as they stare in awe at all the shiny things. Going to see Christmas lights is also a great excuse to get out of the house on a cold winter evening. It’s something you can do as a family and continue to do year after year.

Send a Family Christmas Card

One of the most exciting things about having a newborn baby at Christmastime is being able to create your first family Christmas card. It’s so awesome to snap a photo as a family and share your excitement with your friends and the rest of your family. Take an entire family photo so that you have the picture as a memory, but don’t be afraid to send a card with just a photo of your child. As we mentioned above, you can use a Santa photo, or you can utilize newborn photos taken at the hospital.

Leave Cookies and Milk for Santa

Being a new parent at Christmastime means you get to do all the beloved holiday traditions again. Leave out milk and cookies for Santa along with a nice note explaining what your baby would like for their first Christmas. Read your baby a holiday-themed bedtime story before putting them to bed, and then get the milk and cookies ready for Old Saint Nick. Again, this is a special tradition to start on your baby’s first Christmas that will continue for years to come.

Parents looking to make the holidays extra-special this year should consider these five ways to celebrate your baby’s first Christmas. You’ll create so many memories that will last you a lifetime. These things are traditions you can continue from one Christmas to the next, or they can serve as a guide for when the next little one makes their appearance.

5 Ways to Make a Car Last Forever

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When your teen obtains their first car, you’ll want to instill in them the skills they need to keep it running for as long as possible. Some things that are second nature to you haven’t yet become a part of their regular routine. To help you give your teen the most important tips, we’ve made a short guide on how to make your car last forever.

1. Buy Smart

Whether you’re buying new or used, the first step is to make sure the car you invest in is a reliable model. Make sure you’re with your teenager throughout the entire buying process to help them choose a car that will run well. They need a beginner-friendly make and model as they develop their driving skills.

2. Stay on Top of Maintenance

Simple maintenance routines save your teen—and you—a lot of money, so supply your teen with a list of tasks they should stay on top of. This includes regular oil changes, tire maintenance, and visits to the mechanic.

3. Drive Smart

Erratic driving is a surefire way to shorten the lifespan of a vehicle. Your teenager needs to be aware of how important it is to drive defensively and to mind the rules of the road. Additionally, make sure they know to keep an eye out for road conditions. Environmental factors such as potholes can cause significant damage to a car.

4. Use Seat Covers and Floor Mats

Simple interior maintenance can do a lot of good for a car’s lifespan. Seat covers and floor mats are replaceable, and they’ll help prevent the seats or floor of a car from wearing out too quickly.

5. Don’t Weigh the Car Down

If the trunk becomes too weighed down, the tires and rims can begin to wear faster than they would have otherwise. As such, it’s advisable to make sure your teenager never overloads the trunk of their car.

4 Useful Tips for Starting a Car Collection

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Fatherhood comes with its fair share of responsibility, and this can take up most of your time and energy. As such, it’s challenging to pick a hobby and maintain it. However, for those moments when you have free time, an avocation may make it easier to relax. Cars can be a great way to blow off steam and occupy attention away from stressors. You may even find that your kids develop a budding interest in them too. Here are some helpful tips for starting a car collection.

Determine Your Storage Method

Before you begin gathering vehicles, you need to find a suitable place to store them. For many, renting a warehouse or garage acts as an easy haven from the elements. If you have the necessary resources and land, you can also build your own car shelter. In either case, make certain that your storage space is within reasonable reach of your home so that you don’t couple your leisure with commuting pain. 

Find Your Theme

Zero in on a central theme you want to build around. Consider what kind of cars naturally catch your eye. Once you get an idea, do some research to determine what commonalities they share. What makes each car stand out? Do you prefer a specific era or a certain manufacturing company? It can even be as simple as you just like certain visual design elements.

In the course of your research, you may come to appreciate the cars even more as you learn their unique histories. Narrowing your attention will also save you money and maximize your enjoyment because you focus only on what you really like.

Restoration and Maintenance

Fixing up a car and keeping it in immaculate shape is a fundamental part of car collecting. An interest in cars inevitably includes some knowledge of specs and mechanical systems, but how deep you go is up to you. Some find that doing all the repairs themselves is entertaining, so they don’t mind spending many hours working on their favorite cars. Others would rather get to driving their vehicles quickly, so they defer to mechanics.

No matter what kind of cars you come into possession of, remember that each one will require periodic upkeep. You’ll want to consider possible repairs and maintenance, as you will have to factor in the additional costs to the price you pay for the car itself.

Be Careful in Choosing What to Buy

The final consideration to make is the history and location of a car. Knowing what a car has been through allows you to determine the level of care it received over the years. Inquire about records on the maintenance and storage locations the previous owners used. This will help you confirm that the car is not in an irredeemable state of disrepair.

Additionally, think about the seller’s location. Acquiring rare cars may often involve transporting them to your storage space via a shipment company. Avoid buying a car located far away until you prepare to ship your car with a transport company. If the car becomes damaged during delivery, it will increase your maintenance and repair costs.

With all this in mind, you will be able to begin your car collection on the right foot. Through it all, find ways to include your family. Let the kids help during supervised repairs and take everyone on drives once in a while.

Six Tips for Living a Stress-Free Life

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Everyone deals with stressful or anxiety-inducing situations, and sometimes they can get the better of us. However, when you know how to properly handle worry and conflict, these feelings will no longer take over your entire life. Give yourself a happier, more peaceful environment with these tips for living a stress-free life.

Practice De-Stressing

If you can figure out what specific things in your life tend to set you off, you can prepare to deal with them better. For example, if you find yourself stressed during your daily commute, you can listen to podcasts or playlists that will calm and distract you. Practice a few de-stressing exercises such as deep breathing to develop good habits to fall back on when you face unexpected conflicts.

Learn to Say No

We all want to be helpful—whether to our loved ones or our coworkers—but that can quickly cause us to put all our energy toward other people. Don’t burn yourself out over others’ problems or take on more work than you can handle. Overworking yourself will increase your stress levels and make it harder for you to take care of yourself and those around you.

Focus on What You Have

It’s easy to get caught up in the things you lack. If only you had a bigger house, a better schedule, or more possessions, and maybe everything would be easier. While all of these can certainly be goals to strive for, try not to focus solely on what you don’t have. The more you acknowledge your blessings, the more you’ll come to appreciate the good parts of your life.

Be in the Moment

“Live in the moment” is one of the most popular pieces of advice out there. Dwelling on the past or worrying about the future can be damaging. When you’re fully present in the moment, you get out of your own head and focus what’s going on around you. Focusing on the here and now will help you address your current situation and determine what you need to make every day a little better.

Cut Down on Negativity

While having the space to address negative feelings is important, there are some things you can’t change. Constantly complaining about the bad things can lead to fixation, which will keep you from improving the things you can change. If you maintain a positive outlook, you can make the most of your situation no matter the struggles you face.

Remember Your Strengths

Don’t dwell on the negative parts of yourself. Instead, practice focusing on your strengths, such as any talents you have or compliments you receive from others. Consistently reminding yourself of these things will boost your self-esteem, which can be remarkably helpful when it comes to living a stress-free life. Here’s a bonus tip: if you do find yourself thinking about your weaknesses, try to change your perspective and look instead at the things you can improve.