A bad tire day

By: Emily Hansen

Have you ever had one of those mornings when you wonder what you did to upset the karma pool? Well, this was one of those days. The kids were crabby, we were running late, and when I opened the door to the garage I was greeted with a flat tire. Since I've practiced changing a tire in a non-emergency situation, this was really no big deal and the process went very quickly.  Ha ha!  I'm lying. The morning was officially shot to hell.

I could have called roadside assistance, but I decided that all of you MotherProof.com fans would rather see me change the tire, right? I was lucky that it went flat in the garage, I would probably have been more unsure of my ability to change the tire had it not been parked on my winter-dirty garage floor.

So here goes...

Step 1: Please, oh please, set the emergency brake before starting. It is also a good idea to put some sort of object like a big rock behind each tire to keep the car from rolling, just in case the car falls off its perch once you have it raised.

Step 2: Get the manual out of the glove box and you will find a handy-dandy page in the table of contents that is labeled "changing a flat tire" or something similar. Unless, of course, you own a British automobile, then you will be changing a tyre. Brilliant!

Next you should get the tools you'll need and find your spare tire. In the 2008 Subaru (my nemesis), the toolkit was neatly packaged in the center of the spare tire. The locations of each of these things varies with the different cars. If you can't find something you need, check out that manual you pulled out in Step 2.

Step 3. Read the manual again to see how to operate the jack, and where it should be placed on the frame of the car. This is one of the most important steps. My picture of the manual is a bit blurry but you can see the diagram points to two notches in the cars frame where the jack should be positioned.

Step 4: Place the jack under the car. This part is where you will get dirty. If your kids aren't around, feel free to cuss a lot.  If they are around, cuss anyway, because you can't help it. It is important to look under the car to see that you have placed the jack where the manual has indicated. Improper placement of the jack is very dangerous and could lead to the car becoming unstable while you are changing the tire. As luck would have it, I got dirty in my own garage because of some gravel that had arrived courtesy of a couple of earlier snowstorms.

This particular jack has a big long hook that attaches to a key which I then turned a million times to raise the car to the height required to lift the front wheel off the ground.

Step 5: Now the flat tire must be removed. Hopefully the bolts on your tires are tightly secured. It took me about five seconds to determine that I was not strong enough to turn the bolt with my hands. So, I turned to my butt and thighs to have them do the work. They couldn't. Once I used my foot, the bolts came off quickly. Just for the record, my workout outfit usually does not match my shoes that nicely; I must have woken up on the right side of the bed that morning.

Step 6: Pull the wheel off to reveal the inner workings of your car's suspension and brakes. Pause for a moment to admire the round disk that keeps your family from plowing into things, and then quickly make sure there are no giant dirt clods on the bolt plate before you grab the spare.

Step 7: Line up the holes on the spare with the bolts that are sticking out and then place the spare tire on your car. Screw the bolts back on as tightly as you can. Carefully lower the car down using the jack. Here is where I hope you listened to your dad, and have checked to make sure your spare tire is full of air on a regular basis. Now step back, do a little happy dance, and admire your mad tire-changing skills.

Step 8: Drive to the nearest tire store or gas station and have someone tighten the bolts properly for you. I know that if I was not strong enough to remove the bolts, I am probably not strong enough to get them as tight as they need to be. The guys at the oil-change place about a mile down the road were more than happy to help me get the bolts tightened all the way. While my morning certainly didn't start out the way I'd planned, it wasn't too bad, after all was said and done. Next time, it'll go much faster because I've done it before.

Advice on how to spend that refund

By: Courtney Messenbaugh

I hereby declare that it's time to throw practicality out the window, even if only for one day. I'm talking about how we spend our tax refunds. Too often, people put their refund toward outstanding bills or drop some into their child's college savings. I say, "Let's stop with the sensibility! Let's use our tax refunds to trick out our rides! And ourselves!"

For example, when your refund hits, promptly drive your car to the nearest hand car wash and get it cleaned inside and out. Go crazy and spring for the wax job. All this will run you about $75, and you will notice a marked difference in the way your car looks and smells. You've become so used to that stale milk smell from your tot's spills that you won't even recognize the scent of a normal car. (Hint: it's heavenly.)

Once your car has received the spa treatment, wheel yourself to the nearest human version for some mani/pedi action. This too will make a difference in your life, and it will only run you around $35 to $100, depending on how indulgent you want to be.

Next, pimp your ride. Enter any one of the many big box stores around town and invest in somecool gadgets for your car. A portable GPS receiver is a great place to start. If your car does not have a fancy navigation screen (mine doesn't) this is a cool addition. You can get turn-by-turn voice directions to your destination as well as a clear map of where you are and where you're going (some even use celebrity voices for the directions-ooh!). All of this comes at you from about $200 to about $350.

Or you can choose to upgrade to a satellite/HD radio. For about $150 plus installation, you get stunning audio quality and even a Bluetooth hook-up. Some HD radios can even mark a song for you at the push of a button so that you will later remember to download it from iTunes. I am always hearing songs I like, wanting to buy them and then spacing, so this device would rock my world!

There are plenty more goodies to choose form in this area, but since I'm kind of a frivolous gal, let's end this with a more frivolous spending suggestion, shall we?

For the fashionista in you, I would suggest putting some of that refund money toward — that's right — some sweet driving shoes. Burberry and The Original Car Shoe have a few beautiful pairs of driving flats on the market right now for the bargain prices of about $190 for the former and up to $400 for the latter. Don't hesitate about the money — just buy them and remember that tax refund money is money you didn't really have to begin with. Poof — it's gone! Happy Tax Day!

4/14/08

How You Can Keep Calm Year-Round

By Lori Hindman

Well, it came as news to me, but April is Stress Awareness Month. I'm not quite sure what to make of that: Is it to say that we are all stressed and need greater awareness of it? Or we need to be more aware of the stress level of others? Are we more stressed in April than in other months? Or are we less stressed and need to be reminded of the stressfulness of the other eleven months of the year? I mean puh-leeze! You people think I'm not aware of my stress? Seriously? Come on!!! For the love of chocolate!!! I KNOW ABOUT MY STRESS!!! I'M AWARE OF MY FREAKING STRESS, OK?!!!

OK, count to 10. Breathe. In with the good, out with the bad... Ooohhhhmmmmmm...

I guess it's safe to say that stress in not an altogether unfamiliar concept to me, or to any other parent in this intense day and age. Particularly while we're driving, stress is dangerous, not only to ourselves, but to everyone around us. In the interest of lowering our collective blood pressure and lengthening the life expectancy of our children, let's look at some ways to relieve stress in the car. I've never had much luck with the whole counting to 10 thing. I need to count to like, 4,000. So, as alternatives, in honor of Stress Awareness Month, here are a few new techniques to counter stressing out in the car.

Car Yoga: I've heard of "car yoga" which I think involves breathing and stretching your toes, but this sounds iffy. I mean, yoga is hard enough in an open space with soothing music and an instructor. I think if I tried it in the car, I'd cramp up.

Car Karaoke: I'm more enthusiastic about "car karaoke." It's much more my speed. "Car karaoke" allows my to turn the stereo volume up to drown out the, um, stress coming from the backseat and belt out my favorite tunes at the top of my lungs. Deep breathing happens naturally and I'm feeling much better midway through my second rendition of "Breakaway." I'm pretty sure this works even if your stress isn't coming from the peanut gallery in the back.

Car Comedy: Even if you don't have satellite radio with a comedy channel, just one look at that sticky face in the rear-view mirror can elicit a giggle. In dire cases, an old "knock-knock" joke may work. Knock, knock! Who's there? Boo. Boo who? Oh, don't cry! It's only me! (Awful, I know, but you giggled. Admit it.)

Experts say that the keys to managing stress include eating well and getting adequate rest (nuggets and midnight feedings are not helpful.) Additionally, although I don't exactly have the research to back it up, I'm pretty sure that really good dark chocolate can fix any problem. Unfortunately, coffee can't. Caffeine raises your blood pressure and can cause a rather unpleasant "low" when it wears off. That's not gonna help. And I know I don't have to tell you what a horrible idea that glass of wine is before you get behind the wheel. Let's not even have that talk.

To recap: screaming, caffeine, booze = bad. Music, laughing, chocolate = good.

Have a stress-free day!

4/10/2007

Driver's Edge Instructor Wins Firestone Indy Lights St. Pete Race

By: Kristin Varela

The mom-reviewers here at Mother Proof are slightly paranoid about our kids getting nearly old enough to drive.  With car collisions being the No. 1 killer of teens, it's not an unfounded fear.  Without an easy way to cure our tremors, we're thrilled that Driver's Edge exists. We're even more thrilled that the instructors of Driver's Edge are up-and-coming rock stars of the motorsports world.

Take, for example, Raphael Matos, winner of last weekend's Firestone Indy Lights St. Pete Race. Rafa took first place in Saturday's race. Can't seem to motivate your speed demon teen to get excited about driver's education?  Maybe an excursion to any number of weekend races where Driver's Edge instructors can be idolized in the winner's circle will do the job.

Congrats Rafa and Driver's Edge!

4/11/08

5 Year-Old Guest Columnist Chats with IndyCar Driver

By Cade Varela

What is it about the kids of Mother Proof that makes it so darn easy for them to score the interviews that the rest of us have a tough time landing? Five-year-old guest columnist Cade Varela (inset) chats up IndyCar driver Sarah Fisher about all things safety.  As it turns out, Sarah didn't race in the IndyCar race at St. Petersburg, but she's still fast, furious and also very friendly. She answered Cade's questions by email.

Dear Miss Sarah,

My name is Cade Casteel Varela.  You spell it C-A-D-E and I'm learning how to write it in cursive.  I am 5 years old.  That's cool because I heard that you started racing cars when you were 5 years old. I'm Catalin's little sister.  She helps me clean my room.  When we're finished cleaning we like to play racecars.  We make them out of big boxes, push each other around fast on the carpet and pretend to change the tires and give them gas.  Will you please answer my questions?

Hi Cade-
How cute you are! Cursive was always tough for me, but all you have to do is practice.  I've gotten pretty fast at signing my name in cursive.  I use to put my dolls in my wagons and race them around too-it was fun.

Cade: What do like to ride in to get to your races?  Scooters, bikes or cars?

Sarah: "The political answer to this is my Acura TL.  We usually pull it behind my motor coach to use at the race track.  But my day-to-day car is a BMW M3 when I'm at home.  When we are at the track, I typically ride around on a bicycle but can sometimes be found on a scooter."

Cade: What things are in your car that make it safe for you to drive so fast?

Sarah: "Every year, the series continually makes changes to enhance the safety of the car. This year, we have added anti-intrusion panels to keep parts from piercing the tub and driver inside. We also have several safety elements in our head gear, Hans devices, and ballistic-packed headrest surrounds. Other safety features include a rear impact attenuator, styrene beaded seats, and the more obvious personal safety gear of the driver. These are just a few specific pieces.  It gets pretty technical."

Cade: Is it scary when someone in front of you crashes and tires and things go flying at you?!

Sarah: "Avoiding the crash is the most important thing here. Evaluating where parts or cars are headed and get though it quickly.  It can be like a obstacle course!"

Cade: Does your helmet keep sharp things from hitting your head? What color is your helmet?

Sarah: "I have a shield on the front of my helmet to protect my face and we have tear offs that we can take off after so many laps because they get dirty.  You can think of it like a wiper on your mom's car.  When I take the tear off of the shield, it's clean again.  My helmet last year was red and white.  But it will probably have some blue elements tied in this year because part of our sponsors' colors are elements of blue and I really like blue."

Cade: Do your helpers [referring to her crew] do anything to help keep you safe before you start your race?

Sarah: "They prepare the car to its safest possible condition."

Cade: Thanks for talking to me.

Sarah: "Good luck with your cursive."

4/7/08

In This Case, Sex May Sell a Minivan

By Sara Lacey

OK, plant your tongue firmly in your cheek and go check this out. It's a new Toyota Sienna ad that brilliantly mimics Calvin Klein spots. At one point, a male voice whispers and a female voice lustily urges, "Say it again," to which the male voice whispers in return, "Five-star safety rating." I'll do you the favor of not spoiling the funniest line.

Now, I'm not one to promote the use of sex to sell cars, but this totally works. Maybe you won't buy a Sienna because of it, but it made you laugh, didn't it? Sometimes that's enough for me.

4/2/08

Any Woman Can Be a Driving Pioneer

By Sara Lacey

In honor of Women's History Month last month (OK, you caught me, I totally blew my deadline on this), I wanted to offer a little history of women in motorsports.

There's plenty of material there. I could tell you about Janet Guthrie, who was the first woman to compete in a NASCAR Winston Cup Race and was also one of the first women inducted into the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame. And then there's Shirley Muldowney, who was the first woman licensed to race a top fuel dragster and is known as the first lady of drag racing.

There's more, but in thinking about these women and their accomplishments, and even their first times behind the wheel, I was reminded — albeit humbly — about some of my own "motorsports" firsts. Not just my first time driving or when I got my license, but the first time I, as part of this Mother Proof team, slid around on a skid pad. Or the first time I took a course at the Bridgestone Winter Driving School and understood how a vehicle handles in the snow. Or the first time I understood the whole weight-transfer business.

I recall the first time I realized I could drive a car like it was meant to be driven, understanding I could be better at something I didn't think I needed to be. It's huge and empowering, and a priceless boon to the safety of your family.

So instead of a highly educational treatise on women who drive, let's think about how we drive and how we can expand our horizons when it comes to our cars. Sign up for a driving skills course. Take an auto shop class or change your own tire (BEFORE an emergency, that is). Learn something new about driving. Learn something new about your car. Make Janet and Shirley proud; create your own first in motorsports.

3/28/08

Annual Auto Issue Full of Helpful Data

By Sara Lacey

So you've come to Mother Proof to research a car. I got here myself the very same way a few years ago. Maybe you've just started looking at cars, or maybe you've been at it awhile and just want some support for a decision you've already made. Whatever the case, Mother Proof welcomes you!

Either way, odds are good that you're using more than Mother Proof for your research. In that case, your timing couldn't be better. Consumer Reports' Annual Auto Issue is out on newsstands now, chock full of high-quality, easily digestible information. I picked it up the other day, sat down with a cup of coffee and dove into it like other gals do InStyle, Cooking Light, People or Tiger Beat.

I flipped right to the list of the best and worst cars for 2008, where the Honda Accord is the top pick for best sedan. It beat out the Nissan Altima, but only by a bit because the Altima doesn't come with electronic stability control standard on all trim levels. The top minivan is the Toyota Sienna, which is also the only minivan available with all-wheel drive. Those Consumer Report-ers are safety nuts, and I love them for it.

Other top picks include the Toyota RAV-4 (best mpg of any nonhybrid small SUV), the Hyundai Santa Fe (excellent fit and finish, standard stability control), the Hyundai Elantra SE (again, standard stability control) and the Toyota Prius (best hybrid mpg and great reliability).

In addition to all the best and worst lists (which I love), I also enjoyed the Automaker Report Cards. The report cards give an overall grade to each manufacturer based on the average test score of all the models they produce, as well as on their predicted reliability ratings. The predicted reliability ratings are based on how all models from the 2007 survey compare with average scores over the past three years. Honda scored highest with a 78 out of 100, followed by Toyota with a 75. The tail end of the list shows a tie between Chrysler and Suzuki, both scoring 49.

Then we have the list of cars that are the most and least expensive to own, as well as vehicle ratings, profiles, safety ratings, and best and worst used cars (this list is sorted by price range and is an excellent resource). All this data makes my head spin, in a good way. I love to compare models and daydream about which car I'd buy next if I were in a position to do so.

If you're considering a new car, go grab yourself a copy of Consumer Reports. If you've got a significant other, get one for him, too. Shoot, get a picnic blanket and some snacks, take the kids to the park and sit and do research together. Later, you can cut out pictures of your favorite heartthrob from Tiger Beat and hang them on the wall. What could be dreamier?