I recently went home to Edmonton, Canada, to visit family for the holidays. My older sister and brother-in-law had their toddler with them, which really enlivened the mood. Still being in college myself means I’m nowhere near ready to have kids or even consider them yet. My sister admitted openly that children change things radically, which is no surprise, although I’m sure the real thing is far more intense.
During my stay, we had a number of discussions about proper healthcare for children. It’s something I took for granted because I have no memory of my own earliest years and never bothered to ask my parents about them, at least in the context of my health. I was surprised to learn that affordable healthcare isn’t necessarily guaranteed for kids and many suffer from preventable conditions. Is that a widespread thing?