If you didn't have to work, would you feel differently? I find outside the US, where there is perhaps less focus on career, family is more of a primary focus.

If you didn't have to work, would you feel differently? I find outside the US, where there is perhaps less focus on career, family is more of a primary focus. Personally most of the dread I'm familiar with is because of obligations elsewhere. Not having this obligations frees me to cherish time with kid, even if it's rough. Kids are absolutely a lot of work. I find they are very reflective of the work, and the quality of the work, you put in. In America a lot of childcare is outsourced, which always felt strange to me. Then again some people don't want to be full time parents, or parents at all, but still have kids. I don't totally understand that. If money were no object, I'd trade work for being with my kids full time in a heartbeat.