Vin, working hard for my family means I still have another 8 or so years til my youngest will be leaving uni, and about the same time on my mortgage. This will make me 46, with the option to either down scale or sell up and move abroad for a slower way of life. Each to there own
As a parent you want to give ur children the best possible start to life, this is what dads do. I had my children young so will be, enjoying the later years of my life.
Balance some times comes in the form of material, sometimes as much as £30sqm, sewing machines, over lockers, manaquins
The little ones drama lessons don't come cheap, these are over £60 per week, so balance for me is pushing my children into a hobbies/career that they will enjoy, and won't find the need to have a little rant on forums about how unhappy work can make you.
I will of course, if I open a bar somewhere nice in my later life, give free beers to ciu members.
You will find me in the " it's too hot to work - I need a beer " section.