a) I really like how Paul G had phrased this - http://www.paulgraham.com/kids.html http://www.paulgraham.com/kids.html "I had plenty of happy times before I ha

a) I really like how Paul G had phrased this - http://www.paulgraham.com/kids.html http://www.paulgraham.com/kids.html "I had plenty of happy times before I had kids. But if I count up happy moments, not just potential happiness but actual happy moments, there are more after kids than before. Now I practically have it on tap, almost any bedtime." This to me sums it up very well. Yes,parts of me miss the things I could do earlier. But as with all things in life, is this change a net positive in terms of happiness? "It very likely will be" - has been my experience thus far. My child, still a toddler, continues to be a suprisingly reliable source of happiness and laughs, well into their 6th year. [touches wood]. b) I had a fairly strong attachment to my wife/best friend as I do today too. However, pregnancy, and having a kid reduces your partner's influence on your happiness funnel. They are , for very good reason, less available during the first year of the child's growth. I would thus highly emphasize on diversiyfing your sources of happiness ( with hobbies, men's night out etc) - otherwise, like I saw, there will be a quick fall in happiness levels in the initial few months.