diff --git a/src/event_loop/focus.rs b/src/event_loop/focus.rs
index adc4ceb..0dda36f 100644
--- a/src/event_loop/focus.rs
+++ b/src/event_loop/focus.rs
@@ -119,28 +119,30 @@ impl<A: App> AppData<A>
 			} );
 			ss.request_redraw();
 
-			// Sync cursor to end of current value when focusing a text
-			// input. Default behaviour collapses the selection to the
-			// cursor — focus changes always discard any prior
-			// selection state. Fields built with `.select_on_focus(
-			// true )` instead anchor the selection at `0` so the
-			// whole value is highlighted, ready to be replaced by the
-			// next keystroke (typical for numeric pickers).
+			// Sync cursor to the end of the value when focusing a text
+			// input, via the `usize::MAX` sentinel ("end of whatever
+			// value is rendered" — every consumer clamps with
+			// `cursor.min( value.len() )`). A concrete `value.len()`
+			// snapshot here would go stale if the value keeps growing
+			// after focus (e.g. updated externally over IPC), leaving
+			// later insertions mid-string. Default behaviour collapses
+			// the selection to the cursor — focus changes always
+			// discard any prior selection state. Fields built with
+			// `.select_on_focus( true )` instead anchor the selection
+			// at `0` so the whole value is highlighted, ready to be
+			// replaced by the next keystroke (typical for numeric
+			// pickers).
 			if is_text_input
 			{
 				if let Some( i ) = idx
 				{
 					let handler = find_handlers( &ss.frame.widget_rects, i );
-					let cursor  = handler
-						.and_then( |h| h.current_value() )
-						.map( |v| v.len() )
-						.unwrap_or( 0 );
 					let anchor  = match handler
 					{
 						Some( WidgetHandlers::TextEdit { select_on_focus: true, .. } ) => 0,
-						_ => cursor,
+						_ => usize::MAX,
 					};
-					ss.frame.cursor_state.insert( i, cursor );
+					ss.frame.cursor_state.insert( i, usize::MAX );
 					ss.frame.selection_anchor.insert( i, anchor );
 				}
 			}
diff --git a/src/layout/row.rs b/src/layout/row.rs
index 48e97ac..295bc36 100644
--- a/src/layout/row.rs
+++ b/src/layout/row.rs
@@ -47,6 +47,8 @@ pub struct Row<Msg: Clone>
 	/// Padding on all sides. [`Length`]; default `0.0` px.
 	pub( crate ) padding:     Length,
 	pub( crate ) align_right: bool,
+	pub( crate ) align_top:   bool,
+	pub( crate ) fill_height: bool,
 }
 
 impl<Msg: Clone> Row<Msg>
@@ -59,6 +61,8 @@ impl<Msg: Clone> Row<Msg>
 			spacing:     Length::px( 8.0 ),
 			padding:     Length::px( 0.0 ),
 			align_right: false,
+			align_top:   false,
+			fill_height: false,
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -104,6 +108,26 @@ impl<Msg: Clone> Row<Msg>
 		self
 	}
 
+	/// Pin children to the top edge instead of the default vertical
+	/// centering, so siblings of slightly different heights (e.g. two
+	/// cards whose text metrics differ) share the same top line.
+	pub fn align_top( mut self ) -> Self
+	{
+		self.align_top = true;
+		self
+	}
+
+	/// Stretch every child to the row's inner height, so siblings share
+	/// both the top and the bottom line regardless of their natural
+	/// heights. The row's own height still comes from the tallest
+	/// child's preferred size; children whose content should track the
+	/// stretch need internal flexible spacers.
+	pub fn fill_height( mut self ) -> Self
+	{
+		self.fill_height = true;
+		self
+	}
+
 	/// Return the preferred `(width, height)` given available `max_width`.
 	pub fn preferred_size( &self, max_width: f32, canvas: &Canvas ) -> (f32, f32)
 	{
@@ -240,8 +264,15 @@ impl<Msg: Clone> Row<Msg>
 				Element::Flex( f )   => flex_unit * f.weight as f32,
 				_                    => w,
 			};
-			let y = rect.y + pad + ( inner_h - h ) / 2.0;
-			result.push( ( Rect { x, y, width, height: h }, i ) );
+			let ( y, height ) = if self.fill_height && !matches!( child, Element::Spacer( _ ) )
+			{
+				( rect.y + pad, inner_h )
+			} else if self.align_top {
+				( rect.y + pad, h )
+			} else {
+				( rect.y + pad + ( inner_h - h ) / 2.0, h )
+			};
+			result.push( ( Rect { x, y, width, height }, i ) );
 			x += width + spacing;
 		}
 		result
@@ -258,6 +289,8 @@ impl<Msg: Clone> Row<Msg>
 			spacing:     self.spacing,
 			padding:     self.padding,
 			align_right: self.align_right,
+			align_top:   self.align_top,
+			fill_height: self.fill_height,
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/src/widget/text_edit/draw.rs b/src/widget/text_edit/draw.rs
index ad918e0..1230147 100644
--- a/src/widget/text_edit/draw.rs
+++ b/src/widget/text_edit/draw.rs
@@ -195,12 +195,16 @@ impl<Msg: Clone> TextEdit<Msg>
 			};
 			let cursor_x = rect.x + theme::PAD_H + align_x - scroll_x
 				+ canvas.measure_text( &cursor_text, font_size );
+			// Caret height follows the text line, not the field box — a
+			// tall field (launcher pill) otherwise grows a caret twice
+			// the glyph height. Matches the multiline caret.
+			let cursor_h = font_size + 4.0;
 			let cursor_rect = Rect
 			{
 				x:      cursor_x,
-				y:      rect.y + 8.0,
+				y:      rect.y + ( rect.height - cursor_h ) / 2.0,
 				width:  2.0,
-				height: rect.height - 16.0,
+				height: cursor_h,
 			};
 			canvas.fill_rect( cursor_rect, theme::cursor(), 0.0 );
 		}