I agree some parents get too involved and stop doing anything they like because they think their kids need 100% attendance and "only the best" (which is actuall

I agree some parents get too involved and stop doing anything they like because they think their kids need 100% attendance and "only the best" (which is actually not). That said, I have a hard time to believe that you could get away without any sacrifices (not talking about neglect). Those diapers don't clean themselves, and although small children themselves are rarely boring and in fact mostly hilarious, you still can't just go on with the same activities you had before and possibly would prefer at that moment. Additionally, kids are very different when it comes to needed attention and and care. Some children wake up at 4am, others nicely at 8 or even 9. Some children are sick more than others, some children are more "low-maintenance" (ugly word for a human actually) than others. The children's age is of course a huge factor. The younger they are, the more the balance between your needs and theirs tips more to the side of them, and I think rightly so. I still want to reinforce you sentiment that children do not need to be one big sacrifice and constant burden. They can be a nuisance at times, but mostly they are just great human beings in a very special time of their life, and you have the privilege of keeping their company. The older they get, the less they need your labour, and can hold their own. For that reason alone, you should not give them 100% pampering all the time.