I think the timing is perfect.
Buck up, old man and get the kid's heater core fixed for Christmas.
Don't do the stop leak unless it's in a junker that you don't care about.
It can plug radiator capillaries, heater core capillaries and any small passageway that it might settle in.
If the vehicle is a nasty access number like a Grand Cherokee it will cost you $1000 +/-
:twocents:
