worried about sitting with my kid on southwest airlines

Last time we flew, we spent ages just trying to get seats together, and it was so stressful. Now, I’m planning a trip with my 10-year-old daughter on Southwest Airlines, and I’m honestly a bit anxious. I’ve heard they don’t assign seats ahead of time, and I keep picturing us getting stuck in different rows. I really don’t care about window or aisle, but I absolutely need to sit next to her—she’s still a kid, after all! I’m debating whether to pay extra for early bird check-in, but part of me feels like it’s just another airline money grab. Has anyone actually ended up separated from their child on Southwest? I’d hate to spend the money if it’s not necessary, but I also don’t want to risk a meltdown at 30,000 feet. I can’t be the only parent who’s stressed about this, right? #SouthwestAirlines #FamilyTravel #Parenting #Travel