• The 98th Academy Awards will be held on March 15, 2026.
• This year’s best actress nominees are Jessie Buckley, Emma Stone, Rose Byrne, Kate Hudson, and Renate Reinsve.
• We went back to 1930 to see how red-carpet fashion has changed over the decades.

Besides being a night to recognize talent both in front of and behind the camera, the Oscars are also a night for fashion.

The style of the nominees in the best actress category is perhaps the most scrutinized, analyzed, and remembered by the general public — it’s their coronation moment as the reigning queens of Hollywood.

We went all the way back to 1930 to see what (almost) every best actress winner has worn on their big night, from Ginger Rogers to Faye Dunaway to Julia Roberts to Mikey Madison.

Kirsten Acuna contributed to a prior version of this article.

1930: Mary Pickford

Pickford wore a bedazzled dress, a large diamond bangle, and a few strings of pearls when she won for “Coquette.”

There were actually two Academy Awards in 1930; one in April and then another in November.

1930: Norma Shearer

Shearer wore a jacket with fur-lined sleeves over her dress when she won the Oscar for her role in “The Divorce.”

She finished her outfit with red lipstick, wavy hair, and several pieces of dainty jewelry.

1931: Marie Dressler

Dressler received the Oscar for her part in “Min and Bill.” She wore a dark shift dress and a long necklace.

1932: Helen Hayes

Hayes wore a classic black dress paired with a pearl necklace and gloves to win best actress for her performance in “The Sin of Madelon Claudet.”

1935: Claudette Colbert

Colbert won best actress for “It Happened One Night.” She wore a gray suit with a large flower pinned to the lapel and a black hat.

1936: Bette Davis

Davis wore a patterned ensemble when she took home the award for best actress for her work in “Dangerous.”

She was so convinced that she wouldn’t win the Oscar that she wore “an old costume” to the ceremony, Harper’s Bazaar reported.

1937: Luise Rainer

Rainer wore an elegant white coat and styled her hair in an updo to win the Oscar for her portrayal of Anna Held in “The Great Ziegfeld.”

1938: Luise Rainer

Yes, Rainer won back-to-back Academy Awards. Her second win came for her performance as O-Lan in “The Good Earth.” For her second win, she wore a high-necked gown with bell sleeves.

1939: Bette Davis

Bette Davis won her second best actress Oscar for her role in “Jezebel.” She wore a black gown with a cloud-like collar embellishment.

1940: Vivien Leigh

Leigh wore a patterned dress while accepting the Oscar for playing Scarlett O’Hara in “Gone with the Wind.” She completed her outfit with a single pendant, dark lipstick, curled hair, and tons of mascara.

1941: Ginger Rogers

Rogers accepted the Oscar at the 13th annual Academy Awards for “Kitty Foyle” in a brown dress with lace details.

In 1921, attendees were advised to wear “muted tones” because of the ongoing war, The Telegraph reported.

1942: Joan Fontaine

Fontaine won best actress for “Suspicion.” She wore a lacy black dress, which she paired with a matching hat and several pearl necklaces.

1944: Jennifer Jones

Jones (second from left) won her Oscar for “The Song of Bernadette.” She wore a unique dark gown with white, puffy sleeves and a flower embellishment at the collar.

1945: Ingrid Bergman

Bergman wore a dark skirt and blouse when she won the Oscar for her role in “Gaslight.” The star finished her outfit by sweeping her hair away from her face.

1947: Olivia de Havilland

De Havilland took home the gold for her role in “To Each His Own.”

The actor wore a strapless floral gown, complemented by large curls and a pearl necklace.

1948: Loretta Young

Young wore a green satin gown with matching gloves to accept the award for “The Farmer’s Daughter.” Her tiered dress had plenty of ruffles.

1949: Jane Wyman

Wyman kissed her best actress Oscar for her role in “Johnny Belinda.” She wore a white gown with an embellished collar.

1950: Olivia de Havilland

De Havilland (second from left) embodied ’50s style when she accepted the Oscar for her role in “The Heiress.” The actor paired her flower-embellished gown with matching gloves.

1953: Shirley Booth

Booth won best actress at the 25th Academy Awards for her performance in “Come Back, Little Sheba” in a patterned, long-sleeve dress with matching gloves.

This ceremony was held simultaneously in Hollywood and New York City, and was also the first to be televised.

1954: Audrey Hepburn

Hepburn wore a belted Givenchy dress as she accepted the award for her performance in “Roman Holiday.” She finished the look with classic eyeliner and lipstick.

1955: Grace Kelly

Kelly accepted the award for her role in “The Country Girl.” The future princess of Monaco topped off her pale-green ensemble with elbow-length gloves, dainty earrings, and an updo.

1958: Joanne Woodward

Woodward, Oscar winner and wife of Paul Newman, accepted her award for “The Three Faces of Eve” in a strapless gown embellished with sewn-on flowers. She kept her hair and makeup simple, allowing her outfit to stand out.

1959: Susan Hayward

Hayward wore a black dress to take home the Oscar for “I Want to Live!” She also sported a voluminous blowout, white gloves, and red lipstick.

1960: Simone Signoret

Signoret won the Oscar for “Room at the Top,” wearing an off-the-shoulder black dress.

1961: Elizabeth Taylor

Taylor went floral in a Christian Dior gown to accept her award for “Butterfield 8.” Her high-volume hair and white gloves added some serious glamour to her outfit.

1965: Julie Andrews

Julie Andrews hugged her Oscar for “Mary Poppins” in a pale-yellow gown. The “My Fair Lady” actor topped off her simple dress with a statement necklace and gloves.

1966: Julie Christie

Christie wore a shiny gold dress to match the Oscar she won for “Darling.” She finished her outfit with a feathery blowout.

1969: Barbara Streisand

Streisand didn’t realize her Arnold Scaasi pantsuit was see-through under the lights as she accepted the Academy Award for “Funny Girl.” She finished her sequined pantsuit with a sleek bob and lots of eyeliner.

This year featured a rare tie: Streisand shared her award with Katharine Hepburn for “The Lion in Winter,” but Hepburn famously attended the Academy Awards only once, to present.

1972: Jane Fonda

Fonda accepted the Oscar for “Klute” in a black Yves Saint Laurent suit. She parted her sleek, shoulder-length hair to the side to complete her mod ensemble.

1973: Liza Minnelli

Minnelli shone in a bright-yellow Halston dress to accept the award for her role in “Cabaret.” She paired her outfit with a colorful choker and a matching bracelet.

1976: Louise Fletcher

Jack Nicholson and Fletcher posed together after their Oscar wins for “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” Fletcher wore a delicate Champagne-colored gown by Alfred Fiandaca.

1977: Faye Dunaway

Dunaway wore a black Geoffrey Beene dress with a rope belt to accept her award for “Network.” She finished her dark outfit with several pieces of gold jewelry.

1978: Diane Keaton

Keaton accepted the award for “Annie Hall” in a unique Ruth Morley suit. She went for a muted color palette with her layered outfit.

1979: Jane Fonda

Fonda wore a gorgeous James Reva gown to accept her trophy for “Coming Home.” The two-time winner embraced the trends of the ’70s in a flowy floral dress.

1980: Sally Field

Field embodied spring in a white Bob Mackie dress with sheer floral cover as she accepted the award for “Norma Rae.” She added to the look with lots of eyeliner and teased, voluminous hair.

1981: Sissy Spacek

Spacek took the award for “Coal Miner’s Daughter” in a black jumpsuit and kept the rest of her look simple.

1983: Meryl Streep

Streep won the Oscar for “Sophie’s Choice” in a gold Christian Leigh dress while she was pregnant with her second daughter, Mamie (familiar to fans of “We Were Liars”). She finished her outfit with a pink-brown shade of lipstick and curled hair.

1984: Shirley MacLaine

MacLaine wore a Fabrice pale-pink suit when she won for “Terms of Endearment.” The suit was embellished with an intricate embroidered pattern.

1985: Sally Field

Field cried out her famous, “You like me! You really like me!” in a strapless black dress as she won for “Places in the Heart,” her second win in five years. She finished off her outfit with a necklace that looked like a bow.

1986: Geraldine Page

Page, who won the Oscar for her work in “The Trip to Bountiful,” layered a deep-purple velvet cape over her dress. She completed her outfit with chandelier earrings and a warm shade of lipstick.

1987: Marlee Matlin

Matlin paired her pink dress with a floral headpiece when she won for her role in “Children of a Lesser God.” She paired her mixed-material gown with peachy lipstick.

1988: Cher

Cher famously wore a sheer Bob Mackie ensemble to accept the award for “Moonstruck.” From her headdress to her sandals, the star sparkled.

1989: Jodie Foster

Foster wore a light-blue gown when she took home the Oscar for her role in “The Accused.” She kept her hair and makeup simple, letting the ruched gown speak for itself.

1990: Jessica Tandy

Tandy sparkled in a two-piece getup by Giorgio Armani as she accepted the award for her performance in “Driving Miss Daisy.” She finished her outfit with a pair of statement earrings.

1991: Kathy Bates

Bates wore a black gown with shoulder pads to accept her award for “Misery.” Her earrings matched the glitzy details on her dress.

1992: Jodie Foster

Foster took home the gold statue again for her role in “The Silence of the Lambs.” This time, she opted for a cream Armani jacket and paisley crystal-encrusted trousers, and went old school with matching gloves. Foster also wore a red pin on her lapel for HIV/AIDS awareness.

1993: Emma Thompson

Thompson wore an emerald Caroline Charles jumpsuit when she won for “Howards End.” She completed her look with red lipstick and curled ringlets.

1994: Holly Hunter

Hunter wore a black and gray Vera Wang dress with a hint of sparkle when she won for “The Piano.” She matched her earrings and bracelet to the glimmering details on her dress.

1995: Jessica Lange

Lange wore Calvin Klein when she won the award for “Blue Sky.” She added a touch of color to her dark, mesh-paneled gown with her bright lipstick.

1996: Susan Sarandon

Sarandon wore a bronze Dolce & Gabbana gown when she was recognized for “Dead Man Walking.” She finished off her outfit with tousled hair.

1997: Frances McDormand

McDormand wore a simple blue dress when she won for “Fargo.” She kept her accessories minimal, opting for just one ring and a pair of earrings, a style she still goes by to this day.

1998: Helen Hunt

Hunt stunned in a strapless blue dress by Tom Ford for Gucci when she won for “As Good as It Gets.” She finished off her outfit with a matching wrap, frosty makeup, and a diamond bracelet.

1999: Gwyneth Paltrow

Paltrow wore a baby-pink Ralph Lauren princess gown when she took home the Academy Award for “Shakespeare in Love,” one of the most iconic Oscar looks of all time. She topped off her dress with a sheer, tulle wrap, a statement necklace, bright-pink lipstick, and a touch of blush.

2000: Hilary Swank

Swank wore a strapless green Randolph Duke dress when she accepted the award for “Boys Don’t Cry.” She glammed up her dress with a dazzling statement necklace.

2001: Julia Roberts

Roberts wore a black Valentino gown with white accents when she won for “Erin Brockovich.”

2002: Halle Berry

Berry wore one of the most memorable Oscars dresses when she accepted her award for “Monster’s Ball” in a floor-sweeping Elie Saab gown. Her dress had a mesh, floral-embroidered top and a contrasting satin skirt.

2003: Nicole Kidman

Kidman accepted her Oscar for “The Hours” in a black Jean Paul Gaultier dress that had an unexpected, edgy neckline.

2004: Charlize Theron

Theron rocked a glittering Gucci dress when she won for “Monster.” The actor looked very old Hollywood with her hair styled in glamorous waves.

February 2005: Hilary Swank

Swank accepted her Oscar for “Million Dollar Baby” in a fully backless Guy Laroche dress. She completed the look with shimmering makeup and a sleek hairdo.

2006: Reese Witherspoon

Witherspoon looked radiant in a Christian Dior gown when she won for her performance in “Walk the Line.” She completed her outfit with a smoky eye, a simple hairdo, and earrings that matched her dress.

2007: Helen Mirren

Mirren wore a Christian Lacroix gown when she accepted the Oscar for “The Queen.” It looks like she layered a patterned tulle skirt over her lacy, embellished gown.

2008: Marion Cotillard

Cotillard took home the Oscar for “La Vie En Rose.” The actor looked glamorous, with sleek curls and a mermaid-inspired dress by Jean Paul Gaultier.

2009: Kate Winslet

Winslet took home the Oscar for “The Reader” in a one-shouldered, blue-gray Yves Saint Laurent gown. Winslet complemented her two-toned dress with a smoky eye.

2010: Sandra Bullock

Bullock wore a silver Marchesa dress as she accepted the award for her role in “The Blindside.” The actor brought some color to her look with bright-pink lipstick.

2011: Natalie Portman

Portman wore an off-the-shoulder Rodarte dress while accepting the award for “Black Swan.” Portman’s shoes and earrings perfectly matched her dress. Fun fact: She was four months pregnant at the time!

2012: Meryl Streep

Streep matched her Oscar for “The Iron Lady” in a gold Lanvin dress. From her accessories to her makeup, she appeared to be dripping in gold.

2013: Jennifer Lawrence

Lawrence, who won for “Silver Linings Playbook,” may have tripped on her way to the stage, but she still looked flawless in this white Christian Dior gown.

2014: Cate Blanchett

Blanchett wore an embellished Armani Privé gown when she took home the award for “Blue Jasmine.” She completed her look with delicate curls and large sunburst earrings.

2015: Julianne Moore

Moore wore a strapless Chanel gown when she accepted the award for “Still Alice.” The custom, detailed gown took over 900 hours to make, according to People.

2016: Brie Larson

Larson accepted the Oscar for “Room” in a belted, royal-blue Gucci dress. The intricate gown was in the works for two months, per ABC.

2017: Emma Stone

Stone wore a vintage-inspired gown when she won the award for her performance in “La La Land.” She finished her golden-toned dress with big waves and classic red lipstick.

2018: Frances McDormand

McDormand won the award for her role in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” wearing a black dress with a gold pattern. During her acceptance speech, McDormand asked every female nominee in the audience to stand and discussed the importance of inclusion riders.

2019: Olivia Colman

Colman wore an emerald-green Prada gown that took months to create as she accepted the award for “The Favourite.” Colman’s gown was draped with a silk organza cape, tied into a giant bow at the back, and covered in Swarovski crystal flowers.

2020: Renée Zellweger

Zellweger won her second Oscar — her first best actress Oscar, for “Judy” — in a custom white Armani Privé gown.

Though tough to see, according to Entertainment Tonight, the gown was covered in beads with pale pink and blue thread.

2021: Frances McDormand

McDormand wore a navy-blue gown with a feathered bottom and feathered sleeves to win her third acting Oscar for “Nomadland.”

With her win, McDormand tied Meryl Streep and Ingrid Bergman with the most Oscar wins for acting. Katharine Hepburn holds the record with four best actress statues.

2022: Jessica Chastain

Chastain dazzled in a sparkly ombré Gucci gown that transitioned from rose gold to lavender as she accepted her first Academy Award for “The Eyes of Tammy Faye.”

2023: Michelle Yeoh

Feathers accented the angelic Dior Couture gown. The “Everything Everywhere All At Once” star paired the look with a Moussaieff diamond headband and earrings, along with a Richard Mille watch.

2024: Emma Stone

Stone accepted her second best actress Oscar (this one for “Poor Things”) in a mint-green peplum gown designed by Louis Vuitton, but she made sure to point out during her speech that the zipper had broken at some point during the ceremony.

She blamed Ryan Gosling’s spirited performance of “I’m Just Ken.”

2025: Mikey Madison

Madison, who won for “Anora,” went for an Old Hollywood look at the 2025 Oscars, wearing a two-toned pink and black satin dress with a bow. It was designed by Dior.

• I smiled through holidays as the “cool aunt” while quietly grieving the life I thought I’d have.
• A friend’s offhand comment made me see that my child-free life had real benefits, not just loss.
• Presence doesn’t require parenthood — my niece called it “the aunt influence” before leaving for college.

In my 30s, I was the only one of my three siblings who wasn’t married or starting a family. At holidays and birthdays, I smiled through it and lead into becoming the cool aunt to my nieces and nephew. On Mother’s Day, however, I began bracing myself.

Each year, my mom would give me a card that said something like “Happy Mother’s Day from the dog.” It was meant with nothing but love. She wasn’t trying to minimize what I didn’t have — she was trying to include me. Still, each card landed like a small, unexpected dagger.

A reminder of the life I thought I was supposed to be living, but wasn’t.

I always imagined I’d be a mom

My mom would gently explain that I was a huge influence on my nieces and nephews. That they looked up to me. That mothering my dogs counted, too. And in a real sense, she was right — I wasn’t ready to accept it. I loved my dogs deeply — they kept me grounded and accountable. I was present in my nieces’ and nephews’ lives in meaningful ways, with time and energy to play with them.

But privately, something still felt unfinished. I had always imagined I’d be a mom — driving a carload of kids to and from sports practices. Instead, I was the kids’ biggest fan, attending every hockey game or soccer match I could. At that stage of life, it felt like I was standing on the outside of a world I wanted for myself. For years, I held two truths at once: gratitude for what I had, and grief for what I didn’t.

That tension softened slowly over time — through perspective and by watching the realities of parenthood up close rather than the polished version in my head. I now understand those Mother’s Day cards differently. I see my mom’s big heart for what it is and always has been — her way of saying: “You matter. You belong. Your life counts, too.”

I saw the benefits that came without having kids

When I once confided to a friend that my only regret in life was not having children, he said, “Yeah, but look at all you’ve done. You might not have been able to do those things if you’d had kids.” His comment shifted something. For the first time, I allowed myself to see that not having children came with benefits as well as loss.

My siblings are wonderful parents, and their kids are thriving. But even when everything is going well, parenting adult children carries a constant low-grade stress: worries about their happiness, careers, relationships, health, and the world they’re inheriting. There’s an ever-present sense of responsibility that never fully goes away.

I care deeply about my nieces’ and nephew’s happiness, but I don’t carry that same weight. Instead, I live with a different set of trade-offs. The consequences of my decisions fall on me alone. That freedom has allowed me to further my education and take risks I might not have taken putting kids first, like: leaving full-time jobs to finish a TV pilot, jumping into dock diving my lab, and chasing a new dream of owning a quarter horse rescue and competing in reining.

I can say yes to opportunities that would be impractical for someone juggling school calendars and tuition bills.

I’m the cool aunt

And I still get to show up for the kids I love. Being the cool aunt turns out to be its own form of parenting — from a distance, without daily responsibility but with real influence. My role is lighter, but it’s not insignificant. Recently, my niece decided to attend the same college where I earned a graduate degree. Before she left, she told me: “Yes, the aunt influence is real.” It was said casually, but it landed deeply. Proof that presence doesn’t require parenthood. That modeling a curious, creative, and independent life can be just as formative as enforcing rules or paying for that college degree.

There’s a peaceful relief in releasing the version of adulthood I once carried guilt for not achieving — that lingering expectation of a conventional family life.

I still think about the life I once wanted. But I no longer see it as the life I failed to have. It’s simply one path among many. And the one I’m on now — dogs, dreams, creative risks — feels intentional. I’ve kept those Mother’s Day cards because they remind me that I have the very best mom. Her words and belief in me have taken decades to fully embrace but now that I have, I know: there is more than one ways to nurture, more than one way to matter, and more than one way to build a full life.

• Uber cofounder Travis Kalanick thinks we’re on the precipice of a golden age.
• Kalanick unveiled Atoms, his new robotics company, on Friday.
• He said automation of the physical world will lead to autonomy and abundance for humans.

The Uber-famous founder, Travis Kalanick, says a new golden age is coming — and it’s robots that are ushering it in.

Kalanick announced a new venture called Atoms on Friday in a 1,600-word screed in which he said the automation of the physical world is the next phase of the AI era.

“Software has automated tasks of language and math, but the complete automation of the physical world — autonomy — remains largely untouched territory, the principal unlock to the next era of progress and abundance,” he wrote. “History refers to this kind of moment of radical progress as a Golden Age.”

Kalanick said this “golden age” is emerging as production and transportation become driven primarily by computation, minerals, and energy. With autonomous machines building other machines and software constantly improving itself, he said, productivity could reach unprecedented levels.

“The organization of human capital becomes superhuman,” he wrote.

Kalanick later said on the tech talk show TBPN on Friday that Atoms has been operating in stealth mode for the past eight years. Now, the company aims to expand its delivery infrastructure beyond food into industries such as food service, mining, and transportation.

He said in his announcement that the company’s goal is to create “gainfully employed robots.” He defines these as “specialized robots with productive jobs that bring abundance to their owners and society at large.”

He also said humans should be careful about building robots in their own image. “I watched the half-marathon and couldn’t help but think how much better it would be if they just had wheels,” he wrote, referring to a competition in Beijing last year that pitted humanoid robots against each other.

Kalanick cofounded Uber in 2009. He led the company as CEO until 2017, when he stepped down amid reports of a toxic workplace culture and ongoing regulatory battles.

He isn’t the only tech executive who believes AI robots should extend beyond humanoid form.

The cofounder and CEO of World Labs, Fei-Fei Li, said on the No Priors podcast last year that building physical AI in a singular form is energy inefficient.

“Just an extreme and trivial example, if we put robots underwater, they should not be the shape of humans,” she said. “They better be in the shape of fish. Just think about energy efficiency. The same with flying.”

• Lisa Devine battled on and off drug addiction for a total of six years.
• The courts forced her to get sober, but, after one relapse, the real change came from herself.
• She now runs a candle-making studio that is supported by the community.

This interview is based on a conversation with Lisa Devine, 37, a candle studio owner from Queens, New York. It has been edited for length and clarity.

People often ask me why my Mom and Pop’s arts-and-crafts studio in New York is called “2nd Chance Candles.”

The answer is simple: your past doesn’t define your future, and everyone deserves a second chance.

I’m living this truth after overcoming an addiction that nearly killed me. I am now sober, running a business that brings me joy and fulfillment.

I got kicked out of the college dorms

I’d always been a great kid growing up in Putnam County, New York. I had a high GPA and planned to start a career in dental hygiene.

But the alcohol and weed in which I dabbled during my senior year of high school took hold in college.

It was a dry campus, and I got kicked out of the dorms after being caught drinking with friends. I didn’t have a car, so I couldn’t commute. At 19, I had to move back in with my parents.

Back at home, I couldn’t follow the rules. It was a small town, and I left for New York City. Real fast, I got my first job working in a café.

I’d come home after work and smoke pot. Then, in 2011, someone offered me heroin. I knew I was in trouble when my dealer didn’t pick up one day, and I started to throw up from withdrawal.

When you’re a functioning addict, your new normal is under the influence. If I didn’t have drugs, I didn’t feel normal. Still, I kept getting high while holding down my job.

I went through a 5-day detox

In 2016, I was arrested on charges relating to drugs. I had no criminal record at that point, and I was clearly an addict. The court mandated that I either go to prison or enter treatment for a year. I chose rehab.

I’d already gone through a five-day detox. It was awful and took me about six months to start feeling OK.

In the end, I remained in sober living for 19 months. Next I studied at a trade school for dentistry.

I worked as a barista during that time, which was a great opportunity to get back on my feet. It was exactly what I wanted and needed.

Things went well for five years. Then, in 2021, I stopped caring for myself and relapsed. This time, my drug of choice was cocaine.

I’ll never forget those incredibly miserable days. I hit rock bottom and found the strength to check myself into rehab. I worked hard on my recovery, and my new clean date is April 2022.

Meanwhile, my partner had read up about the candle-making business. He suggested it might be a good way to make money; a means for me to become the upstanding person in society I longed to be.

I host groups like the Girl Scouts

I started making hand-poured candles at home and opened a brick-and-mortar store in October 2023. I felt immensely proud of how far I’d come.

It made perfect sense to call it “2nd Chance Candles.” I loved telling customers about the name because it’s inspiring.

I sold my scented candles in jars. The real joy came from doing workshops for groups like the Girl Scouts. I got such a kick out of the sessions because I got to share my craft.

I’m an open book, and though I don’t particularly like talking about my past, it’s a good conversation starter. A lot of people in the community know my recovery story and give support.

I’ve vowed never to return to my addiction because I’ll always remember the horrible fog of my 20s and early 30s. It’s terrifying to think I could have died from an overdose.

As for work, I’ve hosted many fun events, including kids’ birthday parties and corporate workshops. We’ve branched out into slime-making and drop painting with acrylics, and I employ part-time staff to help in the studio.

If I could give my younger self advice, it would be this: You are not your worst mistake. Shame keeps you stuck longer than addiction does. Ask for help sooner, and know that rebuilding and success are possible.

• My daughter was invited to sleep over at her close friend’s house.
• Her friend’s mom and I talked, and we agreed that I would sleep over, too.
• It was a huge success, and later her friend and mom slept over at our place.

I was excited when my daughter Aria was invited to spend the night at a friend’s house. While I realize not everyone experiences this rite of passage or even needs to, I view it as a nice milestone.

Cozy sleeping bags, tasty snacks, movie marathons, and laughing with friends way past bedtime can make for fun, fond memories. I was not allowed to sleep over anywhere until middle school, and even then, it was a tough sell to my mom.

Despite my enthusiasm, I still had some trepidation about letting Aria sleep over. I had known her friend’s parents for a while, and I trusted them fully, so that part wasn’t an issue. Rather, I was unsure how Aria would do on her own: would she get scared in the dark, as she sometimes does at home? Would the sleeping arrangements be comfortable? Would she be warm enough? Too warm, perhaps?

These and other concerns swirled around in my head.

I want to foster her independence

Fostering independence is important to me as a parent, but it is also important that Aria feels OK. The other mom and I talked; she understood and had even more concerns for her child sleeping at someone else’s house than I did. So, we decided that I would come too. I knew I risked being called a “helicopter parent,” but my goal was to help, not hover.

I talked to my daughter and asked if she felt OK about me tagging along. To my relief, Aria was happy about this joint opportunity for mommy to come and put a new spin on the term “girls’ night”. She packed her fox-covered suitcase with clothes, her toothbrush, jammies, and way more toys than needed; I packed mine (minus the toys). When Aria and I arrived, she and her friend were thrilled to see each other and set off toward the bedroom to play.

The mom and I enjoyed chatting while the girls stretched slime, built bendable cities, and played pretend. We let them stay up a little later than usual, but nothing extreme. They brushed their teeth side by side in the mirror and got ready to lie down.

Once the girls were asleep, the mom and I each enjoyed a glass of wine and more adult conversation before she retired to her room, and I slept on the couch. All in all, the night went off without a hitch.

Then we switched houses

Months later, we did the same thing at my house. I hosted a sleepover in honor of the “Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” anniversary (the girls know nothing of Frodo or Mordor, but the mom and I are big fans).

I welcomed them in my Arwen costume, and the girls went off to play. This time, we had a third adult present, who doesn’t have children but loves our girls (and LOTR). The three adults watched some of the trilogy, had some wine, dinner, and conversation.

That night, Aria’s friend tried to sleep in Aria’s trundle bed but soon grew scared, so she went to sleep with her mom instead, who was right there and ready to ease those nighttime fears. The following morning, I made waffles for everyone before we said goodbye and reflected on how much fun the night had been.

Tagging along for sleepovers can be fun for everyone

I think these parent-child sleepovers could be a fresh idea for caregivers and a nice middle ground between spending the night and just having a playdate. I view what we did as a compromise where the child still gets to have an overnight experience, but someone is there in case anything arises.

Admittedly, this might not work for everyone. The mother and I know each other well enough to do this. I also had the good fortune of my daughter being OK with my attendance, so there was no sour mood to spoil the evening. And I have a kid of elementary age — I’m not sure if this would work with a kid in high school.

Some people might think what I did is crazy, but I liked being around if my daughter needed me and being there when she woke up.

• Airport security checkpoints in the US are under pressure due to the partial government shutdown.
• Many now-unpaid TSA agents are skipping work, causing long lines and wait times.
• Here’s the latest on TSA delays, and how to check wait times before you travel.

Long lines are forming at some TSA checkpoints as the ongoing partial government shutdown now meets spring break.

Numerous airports are telling passengers to allow longer than usual to clear security, as staff shortages cause more congestion and longer lines.

Some 50,000 TSA agents went without their first paycheck this week as the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the TSA, remains unfunded due to a congressional battle over its immigration enforcement policies. At the same time, many Americans have begun traveling for their weeklong spring break.

Demoralizing lines at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport continued on Saturday morning. The airport on Friday told travelers to arrive up to three hours before their flight. Photos and videos shared by travelers online showed lines stretching from the terminal building into the parking lot.

Ava Brendgord, a reporter for local NBC affiliate, KXAN News, shared a video of the line snaking out of the building at around 5 a.m. local time on Friday morning. Similar scenes played out on Saturday.

Though waits were nowhere near the three hours some passengers experienced at Houston Hobby Airport last weekend, there was significant congestion at some airports on Friday and Saturday. One Business Insider employee traveling from LaGuardia on Friday saw a lengthy line, and at JFK, wait times exceeded 20 minutes at most TSA screening points.

Atlanta Airport, the world’s busiest by passenger numbers, said it expects to serve 250,000 travelers this weekend, and advised people to arrive three hours early.

How to check wait times

The easiest way to avoid the stress of missing your flight is to arrive as early as you can. Many airports are advising travelers this week to arrive up to three hours before their flight.

To check TSA wait times, many airports, including major hubs like Atlanta, Houston, JFK, Newark, Philadelphia, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Denver, post them live on their websites.

These can also provide more specific insights. For example, DFW’s website shows the wait times at each checkpoint.

You can also use the MyTSA mobile app. It provides estimated wait times in 15-minute intervals based on average checkpoint data. The app, however, will use historical data if the live data cannot be retrieved. The TSA also says it is not “actively” managing its sites during the partial shutdown, and so the app may not always be updated.