You can't control the ups and downs of this industry, but you can control how they effect you and your family. Namely, reduce debt and save money. Now, those two things are mutually exclusive. It's hard to do both at once, but it can be done.

Remember too, that this is just a job in the end. Don't let it define you. I've been through a furlough, bankruptcy, and a merger. I've seen guys end their lives, leaving behind families to deal without them, because of these events. At the end of the day, what's more important? Being able to say, "I'm an airline pilot," or "I'm a husband and father?"

Whatever happens, good luck and remember, the only one really looking out for your wellbeing is you. They can take pay, benefits, and QOL away from you. Only you can let them take your sanity and humanity too.