DivaJean >> I aspire to be the same type of parent that you seem to be. I do my 40 hours/week at work, with the occasional need to work late. I also am trying to get a business going so someday I can work for myself.

But I also make sure there are a few hours each weekday for my wife and baby boy (just turned 7 months today!). Saturdays we spend with my wife's family and try to go out and do something together, even if its as simple as wandering around the mall, or going out for coffee. And Sundays are family day, which means my cell phone is turned off, my wife's cell phone is turned off, and we spend time together.

In the end, I may not be pulling in as much money as the next guy. I may not have as big a house or as big a yard, or tv, or whatever other "shiny object" is out there that everyone has. But I have my time with my family, we have our memories, our inside jokes... and that's something that won't need replacing (like the TVs and cars out there do).

DivaJean, keep up the good job you're doing with your family, and I hope when my kid (or kids in the future) are older, I can say I've spent the quality time with my family it seems you have with your family.