Happy Monday,

Hope everyone had a great weekend! I’m still on the mend from the stomach bug, but was able to get out and about for daddy / daughter pancakes and bacon yesterday.

In important updates, it’s officially our daughter’s first birthday week! This feels like a huge milestone not only for her but also for my wife and I as well. It’s insane to think about how much I’ve grown as a person over the past year, experiencing new highs, some lows, a bunch of anxiety and a new understanding of what love is. I’m unbelievably proud of my family and feel so much gratitude to be here.

Thanks to you all for following along!

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One Big Idea

Understanding Mycoplasma Pneumonia, the Illness At the Center of An Outbreak In Ohio

Understanding the Outbreak: Recent reports from Ohio, Denmark, and China have highlighted an outbreak of mycoplasma pneumonia, particularly affecting children. This respiratory illness, caused by bacteria, is characterized by symptoms like cough, fever, and fatigue. Importantly, these cases are not more severe than those in previous years, and it's not considered to be a new or novel pathogen. However, the increased incidence rate raises concerns, especially among parents of young children. Mycoplasma pneumonia, often milder than other forms of pneumonia, can linger in the nose and throat without causing sickness, which is why it’s sometimes referred to as ‘walking pneumonia,’ but may lead to pneumonia if it spreads to the lungs. This outbreak highlights the need for awareness and preparedness, especially in managing the health of our children.

Impact on Young Children: Young children, particularly those under five, are more susceptible to severe cases, especially if they have weaker immune systems or haven't been exposed to this bacterium before. The symptoms in young children can include more general cold-like signs, such as sneezing, stuffy noses, and even diarrhea or vomiting. Given the cyclical nature of mycoplasma pneumonia and recent social changes, such as the return to normalcy post-pandemic, there's an increased number of susceptible individuals, particularly children who haven’t been previously exposed to this bacteria and thus have no immunity. This situation is a reminder for parents to be vigilant about respiratory health and seek medical advice when symptoms persist.

Trending Stories & Insights

• Cha-ching: Nick Cannon, a father of 12 (and counting?) recently revealed that he goes to Disneyland at least once a month. Any guesses as to how much that costs per year?

• Actionable insight: Here are 7 tips from to help raise caring, respectful, and ethical children

• It’s that time: It’s time to start getting your gifts ready for the holiday season. Here are some of the longest lasting gifts for kids

Tip of the Day

• My hero: Here are some parenting tips from a dad, who has fostered 36 children - by himself. He also runs the Now I Am Known Foundation, if you’d like to show him support. I have done so

Here’s a dad joke

Why did the employee get fired from the keyboard factory?

Scroll to the bottom of the newsletter for the answer!

Time(out) for Memes