Happy Friday,

I’ve learned this week that once your kid gets sick, it’s only a matter of time until you catch whatever it is they had as well. I’ve also learned that it’s usually worse for the adult than the child (which I’m extremely thankful for because I know it can be the opposite as well which is super scary).

While this observation is in no way scientifically backed, it has been my experience through two rounds of sickness in the past two months. Perhaps I’m a lightweight when it comes to being under the weather (my wife would say this), or maybe it’s that my immune system has gotten much weaker after moving away from the NYC subway system, but my daughter seems to be in much better shape than me.

How do you all deal with sickness as it moves through your household? Do you simply acknowledge that you’re going to get it and prepare for that inevitability?

Trending Stories & Insights

• Wake up call: Dave Ramsey shamed a dad on his personal finance show for his extremely high childcare costs. I’m left wondering why a “personal finance expert" is so out of touch

• Family friendly: A recent report ranked the best states to raise a family, evaluating states according to 50 metrics across five categories: family fun, health and safety, education and childcare, affordability, and socioeconomics

• Summer EBT: Nearly 21 million children in the U.S. and its territories are expected to receive food benefits this summer through a new federal program, the United States Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday. It’s a step in the right direction, but at $40/month/child, is it enough?

Tip of the Day

• Naughty or nice? Many of kids' so-called 'bad' behaviors are actually normal developmental acts of growing up. Here are 10 of those seemingly naughty behaviors and tips for reacting to them

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One Big Idea

The Urgent Need for Infant Safety in the Skies

In the wake of the recent alarming incident on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, where a structural failure led to rapid depressurization of the cabin, questions surrounding the vulnerabilities of unrestrained infants and infant safety on flights has been brought into focus. This near tragedy, distressingly reminiscent of others in the past, underscores a significant gap in aviation safety protocols. The common practice of holding infants on laps during flights, especially during takeoff and landing, is not just frowned upon by experts but is also an alarming safety hazard. The Alaska Airlines incident serves as a reminder of the risks associated with unrestrained infants during air travel and the need for revisiting and reinforcing safety guidelines.

The debate surrounding the safety of lap-held infants isn’t new. Tragic incidents, like the 1989 United Airlines crash in Sioux City and the 1995 Charlotte crash, where lap-held infants suffered fatal injuries, have long fueled calls for stricter regulations. Yet, regulatory changes lag, often held up by concerns over increased travel costs for families. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA and the American Academy of Pediatrics have been vocal advocates for mandatory infant safety procedures. It’s interesting how there are such glaring inconsistencies in safety norms between road and air travel. If infants require car seats in vehicles for safety, shouldn't the same logic apply to air travel? This inconsistency in safety standards between different modes of transport highlights a critical area of concern that should lead to immediate attention.

Here’s a dad joke

How do you follow Will Smith in the snow?

Scroll to the bottom of the newsletter for the answer!

Time(out) for Memes