diff --git a/core/src/orientation/axis.rs b/core/src/orientation/axis.rs
index 5b58a7e..0f31958 100644
--- a/core/src/orientation/axis.rs
+++ b/core/src/orientation/axis.rs
@@ -68,3 +68,48 @@ impl Vec2 {
         }
     }
 }
+
+pub const trait AxisT {
+    fn get() -> Axis;
+}
+
+pub struct XAxis;
+impl const AxisT for XAxis {
+    fn get() -> Axis {
+        Axis::X
+    }
+}
+
+pub struct YAxis;
+impl const AxisT for YAxis {
+    fn get() -> Axis {
+        Axis::Y
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Default)]
+pub struct BothAxis<T> {
+    pub x: T,
+    pub y: T,
+}
+
+impl<T> BothAxis<T> {
+    pub const fn axis<A: const AxisT>(&mut self) -> &mut T {
+        match A::get() {
+            Axis::X => &mut self.x,
+            Axis::Y => &mut self.y,
+        }
+    }
+    pub fn take_axis<A: const AxisT>(self) -> T {
+        match A::get() {
+            Axis::X => self.x,
+            Axis::Y => self.y,
+        }
+    }
+    pub fn axis_dyn(&mut self, axis: Axis) -> &mut T {
+        match axis {
+            Axis::X => &mut self.x,
+            Axis::Y => &mut self.y,
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/core/src/primitive/text.rs b/core/src/primitive/text.rs
index 0e557a7..663af0f 100644
--- a/core/src/primitive/text.rs
+++ b/core/src/primitive/text.rs
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ pub type TextBuffer = Buffer;
 
 impl Default for TextAttrs {
     fn default() -> Self {
-        let size = 14.0;
+        let size = 16.0;
         Self {
             color: UiColor::WHITE,
             font_size: size,
diff --git a/core/src/ui/active.rs b/core/src/ui/active.rs
index 76c7438..b2c6ec9 100644
--- a/core/src/ui/active.rs
+++ b/core/src/ui/active.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use crate::{LayerId, Len, MaskIdx, PrimitiveHandle, TextureHandle, UiRegion, UiVec2, WidgetId};
+use crate::{LayerId, MaskIdx, PrimitiveHandle, TextureHandle, UiRegion, WidgetId};
 
 /// important non rendering data for retained drawing
 #[derive(Debug)]
@@ -9,15 +9,6 @@ pub struct ActiveData {
     pub textures: Vec<TextureHandle>,
     pub primitives: Vec<PrimitiveHandle>,
     pub children: Vec<WidgetId>,
-    pub resize: ResizeRef,
     pub mask: MaskIdx,
     pub layer: LayerId,
 }
-
-/// stores information for children about the highest level parent that needed their size
-/// so that they can redraw the parent if their size changes
-#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Default)]
-pub struct ResizeRef {
-    pub x: Option<(WidgetId, (UiVec2, Len))>,
-    pub y: Option<(WidgetId, (UiVec2, Len))>,
-}
diff --git a/core/src/ui/cache.rs b/core/src/ui/cache.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..10565ee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/src/ui/cache.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+use crate::{BothAxis, Len, UiVec2, WidgetId, util::HashMap};
+
+#[derive(Default)]
+pub struct Cache {
+    pub size: BothAxis<HashMap<WidgetId, (UiVec2, Len)>>,
+}
+
+impl Cache {
+    pub fn remove(&mut self, id: WidgetId) {
+        self.size.x.remove(&id);
+        self.size.y.remove(&id);
+    }
+
+    pub fn clear(&mut self) {
+        self.size.x.clear();
+        self.size.y.clear();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/core/src/ui/draw_state.rs b/core/src/ui/draw_state.rs
index 338584d..91c8cd2 100644
--- a/core/src/ui/draw_state.rs
+++ b/core/src/ui/draw_state.rs
@@ -1,16 +1,12 @@
 use crate::{
-    ActiveData, Len, Painter, SizeCtx, Ui, UiRegion, UiVec2, WidgetId,
-    render::MaskIdx,
-    ui::ResizeRef,
-    util::{HashMap, HashSet},
+    ActiveData, Axis, Painter, SizeCtx, Ui, UiRegion, UiVec2, WidgetId, render::MaskIdx,
+    util::HashSet,
 };
 use std::ops::{Deref, DerefMut};
 
 /// state maintained between widgets during painting
 pub struct DrawState<'a, State> {
     pub(super) ui: &'a mut Ui<State>,
-    cache_width: HashMap<WidgetId, (UiVec2, Len)>,
-    cache_height: HashMap<WidgetId, (UiVec2, Len)>,
     draw_started: HashSet<WidgetId>,
 }
 
@@ -18,8 +14,6 @@ impl<'a, State: 'static> DrawState<'a, State> {
     pub fn new(ui: &'a mut Ui<State>) -> Self {
         Self {
             ui,
-            cache_width: Default::default(),
-            cache_height: Default::default(),
             draw_started: Default::default(),
         }
     }
@@ -39,64 +33,23 @@ impl<'a, State: 'static> DrawState<'a, State> {
         if self.draw_started.contains(&id) {
             return;
         }
-        let Some(active) = self.ui.active.get(&id) else {
+        // check if parent depends on the desired size of this, if so then redraw it first
+        for axis in [Axis::X, Axis::Y] {
+            if let Some(&(outer, old)) = self.cache.size.axis_dyn(axis).get(&id)
+                && let Some(current) = self.active.get(&id)
+                && let Some(pid) = current.parent
+            {
+                self.cache.size.axis_dyn(axis).remove(&id);
+                let new = self.size_ctx(id, outer).len_axis(id, axis);
+                self.cache.size.axis_dyn(axis).insert(id, (outer, new));
+                if new != old {
+                    self.redraw(pid);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        if self.draw_started.contains(&id) {
             return;
-        };
-        let mut resize = active.resize;
-
-        // set resize back after redrawing
-        let finish = |s: &mut Self, resize| {
-            if let Some(active) = s.active.get_mut(&id) {
-                // might need to get_or_insert here instead of just assuming
-                active.resize = resize;
-            }
-        };
-
-        // check if a parent depends on the desired size of this, if so then redraw it first
-        // TODO: this is stupid having 2 of these, don't ask me what the consequences are
-        let mut ret = false;
-        if let Some((rid, (outer, old_desired))) = &mut resize.x {
-            let new_desired = self
-                .size_ctx(
-                    id,
-                    *outer,
-                    id,
-                    &mut Default::default(),
-                    &mut Default::default(),
-                )
-                .width_inner(id);
-            if new_desired != *old_desired {
-                // unsure if I need to walk down the tree here
-                self.redraw(*rid);
-                *old_desired = new_desired;
-                if self.draw_started.contains(&id) {
-                    ret = true;
-                }
-            }
-        }
-
-        if let Some((rid, (outer, old_desired))) = &mut resize.y {
-            // NOTE: might need hack in Span here (or also do it properly here)
-            let new_desired = self
-                .size_ctx(
-                    id,
-                    *outer,
-                    id,
-                    &mut Default::default(),
-                    &mut Default::default(),
-                )
-                .height_inner(id);
-            if new_desired != *old_desired {
-                self.redraw(*rid);
-                *old_desired = new_desired;
-                if self.draw_started.contains(&id) {
-                    ret = true;
-                }
-            }
-        }
-
-        if ret {
-            return finish(self, resize);
         }
 
         let Some(active) = self.remove(id, false) else {
@@ -111,43 +64,36 @@ impl<'a, State: 'static> DrawState<'a, State> {
             active.mask,
             Some(active.children),
         );
-        finish(self, resize);
     }
 
     pub(super) fn size_ctx<'b>(
         &'b mut self,
         source: WidgetId,
         outer: UiVec2,
-        id: WidgetId,
-        checked_width: &'b mut HashMap<WidgetId, (UiVec2, Len)>,
-        checked_height: &'b mut HashMap<WidgetId, (UiVec2, Len)>,
     ) -> SizeCtx<'b, State> {
         SizeCtx {
             source,
-            cache_width: &mut self.cache_width,
-            cache_height: &mut self.cache_height,
+            cache: &mut self.ui.cache,
             text: &mut self.ui.text,
             textures: &mut self.ui.textures,
             widgets: &self.ui.widgets,
             outer,
             output_size: self.ui.output_size,
-            checked_width,
-            checked_height,
-            id,
+            id: source,
         }
     }
 
     pub fn redraw_all(&mut self) {
-        // update event managers
+        // free all resources & cache
         for (id, active) in self.ui.active.drain() {
             let data = self.ui.widgets.data(id).unwrap();
             self.ui.events.undraw(data, &active);
         }
-        // free before bc nothing should exist
+        self.ui.cache.clear();
         self.free();
-
         self.layers.clear();
         self.widgets.needs_redraw.clear();
+
         if let Some(id) = &self.ui.root {
             self.draw_inner(0, id.id(), UiRegion::FULL, None, MaskIdx::NONE, None);
         }
@@ -175,7 +121,6 @@ impl<'a, State: 'static> DrawState<'a, State> {
         //     );
         // }
         let mut old_children = old_children.unwrap_or_default();
-        let mut resize = ResizeRef::default();
         if let Some(active) = self.ui.active.get_mut(&id)
             && !self.ui.widgets.needs_redraw.contains(&id)
         {
@@ -194,7 +139,6 @@ impl<'a, State: 'static> DrawState<'a, State> {
             // if not, then maintain resize and track old children to remove unneeded
             let active = self.remove(id, false).unwrap();
             old_children = active.children;
-            resize = active.resize;
         }
 
         // draw widget
@@ -209,8 +153,6 @@ impl<'a, State: 'static> DrawState<'a, State> {
             textures: Vec::new(),
             primitives: Vec::new(),
             children: Vec::new(),
-            children_width: Default::default(),
-            children_height: Default::default(),
         };
 
         let mut widget = painter.state.widgets.get_dyn_dynamic(id);
@@ -224,8 +166,6 @@ impl<'a, State: 'static> DrawState<'a, State> {
             textures,
             primitives,
             children,
-            children_width,
-            children_height,
             layer,
             id,
         } = painter;
@@ -238,27 +178,10 @@ impl<'a, State: 'static> DrawState<'a, State> {
             textures,
             primitives,
             children,
-            resize,
             mask,
             layer,
         };
 
-        // set resize for children who's size this widget depends on
-        for (cid, outer) in children_width {
-            if let Some(w) = self.active.get_mut(&cid)
-                && w.resize.x.is_none()
-            {
-                w.resize.x = Some((id, outer))
-            }
-        }
-        for (cid, outer) in children_height {
-            if let Some(w) = self.active.get_mut(&cid)
-                && w.resize.y.is_none()
-            {
-                w.resize.y = Some((id, outer))
-            }
-        }
-
         // remove old children that weren't kept
         for c in &old_children {
             if !active.children.contains(c) {
@@ -308,6 +231,7 @@ impl<'a, State: 'static> DrawState<'a, State> {
     }
 
     fn remove_rec(&mut self, id: WidgetId) -> Option<ActiveData> {
+        self.cache.remove(id);
         let inst = self.remove(id, true);
         if let Some(inst) = &inst {
             for c in &inst.children {
diff --git a/core/src/ui/mod.rs b/core/src/ui/mod.rs
index 4f1ecdb..6371b3a 100644
--- a/core/src/ui/mod.rs
+++ b/core/src/ui/mod.rs
@@ -11,12 +11,14 @@ use std::{
 };
 
 mod active;
+mod cache;
 mod draw_state;
 mod painter;
 mod size;
 mod state;
 
 pub use active::*;
+use cache::*;
 pub use painter::Painter;
 pub use size::*;
 
@@ -32,6 +34,7 @@ pub struct Ui<State> {
     pub text: TextData,
     output_size: Vec2,
     pub masks: TrackedArena<Mask, u32>,
+    pub cache: Cache,
 
     root: Option<WidgetHandle<State>>,
     recv: Receiver<WidgetId>,
@@ -202,6 +205,7 @@ impl<State: 'static> Default for Ui<State> {
             masks: Default::default(),
             text: Default::default(),
             textures: Default::default(),
+            cache: Default::default(),
             output_size: Vec2::ZERO,
             root: Default::default(),
             full_redraw: false,
diff --git a/core/src/ui/painter.rs b/core/src/ui/painter.rs
index 3256b2d..730ff2c 100644
--- a/core/src/ui/painter.rs
+++ b/core/src/ui/painter.rs
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 use crate::{
     Axis, Len, RenderedText, Size, SizeCtx, TextAttrs, TextBuffer, TextData, TextureHandle,
-    UiRegion, UiVec2, WidgetHandle, WidgetId,
+    UiRegion, Widget, WidgetHandle, WidgetId,
     render::{Mask, MaskIdx, Primitive, PrimitiveHandle, PrimitiveInst},
     ui::draw_state::DrawState,
-    util::{HashMap, Vec2},
+    util::Vec2,
 };
 
 /// makes your surfaces look pretty
@@ -15,8 +15,6 @@ pub struct Painter<'a, 'b, State> {
     pub(super) textures: Vec<TextureHandle>,
     pub(super) primitives: Vec<PrimitiveHandle>,
     pub(super) children: Vec<WidgetId>,
-    pub(super) children_width: HashMap<WidgetId, (UiVec2, Len)>,
-    pub(super) children_height: HashMap<WidgetId, (UiVec2, Len)>,
     pub layer: usize,
     pub(super) id: WidgetId,
 }
@@ -97,11 +95,15 @@ impl<'a, 'c, State: 'static> Painter<'a, 'c, State> {
         self.region
     }
 
-    pub fn size<W: ?Sized>(&mut self, id: &WidgetHandle<State, W>) -> Size {
+    pub fn size<W: ?Sized + Widget<State>>(&mut self, id: &WidgetHandle<State, W>) -> Size {
         self.size_ctx().size(id)
     }
 
-    pub fn len_axis<W: ?Sized>(&mut self, id: &WidgetHandle<State, W>, axis: Axis) -> Len {
+    pub fn len_axis<W: ?Sized + Widget<State>>(
+        &mut self,
+        id: &WidgetHandle<State, W>,
+        axis: Axis,
+    ) -> Len {
         match axis {
             Axis::X => self.size_ctx().width(id),
             Axis::Y => self.size_ctx().height(id),
@@ -137,12 +139,6 @@ impl<'a, 'c, State: 'static> Painter<'a, 'c, State> {
     }
 
     pub fn size_ctx(&mut self) -> SizeCtx<'_, State> {
-        self.state.size_ctx(
-            self.id,
-            self.region.size(),
-            self.id,
-            &mut self.children_width,
-            &mut self.children_height,
-        )
+        self.state.size_ctx(self.id, self.region.size())
     }
 }
diff --git a/core/src/ui/size.rs b/core/src/ui/size.rs
index 5042ed0..eecc1f9 100644
--- a/core/src/ui/size.rs
+++ b/core/src/ui/size.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 use crate::{
-    Axis, Len, RenderedText, Size, TextAttrs, TextBuffer, TextData, Textures, UiVec2, WidgetHandle,
-    WidgetId, Widgets,
-    util::{HashMap, Vec2},
+    Axis, AxisT, IdLike, Len, RenderedText, Size, TextAttrs, TextBuffer, TextData, Textures,
+    UiVec2, WidgetAxisFns, WidgetId, Widgets, XAxis, YAxis, ui::cache::Cache, util::Vec2,
 };
 
 pub struct SizeCtx<'a, State> {
@@ -9,10 +8,7 @@ pub struct SizeCtx<'a, State> {
     pub textures: &'a mut Textures,
     pub(super) source: WidgetId,
     pub(super) widgets: &'a Widgets<State>,
-    pub(super) cache_width: &'a mut HashMap<WidgetId, (UiVec2, Len)>,
-    pub(super) cache_height: &'a mut HashMap<WidgetId, (UiVec2, Len)>,
-    pub(super) checked_width: &'a mut HashMap<WidgetId, (UiVec2, Len)>,
-    pub(super) checked_height: &'a mut HashMap<WidgetId, (UiVec2, Len)>,
+    pub(super) cache: &'a mut Cache,
     /// TODO: should this be pub? rn used for sized
     pub outer: UiVec2,
     pub(super) output_size: Vec2,
@@ -28,65 +24,44 @@ impl<State: 'static> SizeCtx<'_, State> {
         &self.source
     }
 
-    pub(super) fn width_inner(&mut self, id: WidgetId) -> Len {
-        // first check cache
-        // TODO: is this needed? broken rn bc does not store children during upper size check,
-        // so if something actually using check_* hits cache it fails to add them
-        // if let Some(&(outer, len)) = self.cache_width.get(&id)
-        //     && outer == self.outer
-        // {
-        //     self.checked_width.insert(id, (self.outer, len));
-        //     return len;
-        // }
-        // store self vars that need to be maintained
-        let self_outer = self.outer;
-        let self_id = self.id;
-        // get size of input id
-        self.id = id;
-        let len = self.widgets.get_dyn_dynamic(id).desired_width(self);
-        // restore vars & update cache + checked
-        self.outer = self_outer;
-        self.id = self_id;
-        self.cache_width.insert(id, (self.outer, len));
-        self.checked_width.insert(id, (self.outer, len));
+    pub(super) fn len_inner<A: const AxisT>(&mut self, id: WidgetId) -> Len {
+        if let Some((_, len)) = self.cache.size.axis::<A>().get(&id) {
+            return *len;
+        }
+        let len = self
+            .widgets
+            .get_dyn_dynamic(id)
+            .desired_len::<A>(&mut SizeCtx {
+                text: self.text,
+                textures: self.textures,
+                source: self.source,
+                widgets: self.widgets,
+                cache: self.cache,
+                outer: self.outer,
+                output_size: self.output_size,
+                id,
+            });
+        self.cache.size.axis::<A>().insert(id, (self.outer, len));
         len
     }
 
-    // TODO: should be refactored to share code w width_inner
-    pub(super) fn height_inner(&mut self, id: WidgetId) -> Len {
-        // if let Some(&(outer, len)) = self.cache_height.get(&id)
-        //     && outer == self.outer
-        // {
-        //     self.checked_height.insert(id, (self.outer, len));
-        //     return len;
-        // }
-        let self_outer = self.outer;
-        let self_id = self.id;
-        self.id = id;
-        let len = self.widgets.get_dyn_dynamic(id).desired_height(self);
-        self.outer = self_outer;
-        self.id = self_id;
-        self.cache_height.insert(id, (self.outer, len));
-        self.checked_height.insert(id, (self.outer, len));
-        len
+    pub fn width(&mut self, id: impl IdLike<State>) -> Len {
+        self.len_inner::<XAxis>(id.id())
     }
 
-    pub fn width<W: ?Sized>(&mut self, id: &WidgetHandle<State, W>) -> Len {
-        self.width_inner(id.id())
+    pub fn height(&mut self, id: impl IdLike<State>) -> Len {
+        self.len_inner::<YAxis>(id.id())
     }
 
-    pub fn height<W: ?Sized>(&mut self, id: &WidgetHandle<State, W>) -> Len {
-        self.height_inner(id.id())
-    }
-
-    pub fn len_axis<W: ?Sized>(&mut self, id: &WidgetHandle<State, W>, axis: Axis) -> Len {
+    pub fn len_axis(&mut self, id: impl IdLike<State>, axis: Axis) -> Len {
         match axis {
             Axis::X => self.width(id),
             Axis::Y => self.height(id),
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn size<W: ?Sized>(&mut self, id: &WidgetHandle<State, W>) -> Size {
+    pub fn size(&mut self, id: impl IdLike<State>) -> Size {
+        let id = id.id();
         Size {
             x: self.width(id),
             y: self.height(id),
diff --git a/core/src/widget/mod.rs b/core/src/widget/mod.rs
index f9657d4..917a2c2 100644
--- a/core/src/widget/mod.rs
+++ b/core/src/widget/mod.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use crate::{Len, Painter, SizeCtx, Ui};
+use crate::{Axis, AxisT, Len, Painter, SizeCtx, Ui};
 use std::any::Any;
 
 mod data;
@@ -19,6 +19,19 @@ pub trait Widget<State>: Any {
     fn desired_height(&mut self, ctx: &mut SizeCtx<State>) -> Len;
 }
 
+pub trait WidgetAxisFns<State> {
+    fn desired_len<A: AxisT>(&mut self, ctx: &mut SizeCtx<State>) -> Len;
+}
+
+impl<State, W: Widget<State> + ?Sized> WidgetAxisFns<State> for W {
+    fn desired_len<A: AxisT>(&mut self, ctx: &mut SizeCtx<State>) -> Len {
+        match A::get() {
+            Axis::X => self.desired_width(ctx),
+            Axis::Y => self.desired_height(ctx),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 impl<State> Widget<State> for () {
     fn draw(&mut self, _: &mut Painter<State>) {}
     fn desired_width(&mut self, _: &mut SizeCtx<State>) -> Len {