[throwaway59842]

Having young kids makes you far more efficient. Your time is far more scarce, so you focus much better when you have clear time. You'll also be more refreshed by having time away from the computer, far more empathetic, and develop a far wider social circle of people with similar-aged kids. All of that makes you more human and more effective regardless of your profession.

One big unknown is what will happen after you or your partner has spent a few years as the primary care giver. The non-primary care giver will have to be flexible, adaptable and accept the situation will almost certainly change as the children progress from babies to school-aged.

If you are of an average first child age, have 2 children, live in a developed country, and live a statistical ~83 years, you'll have significant time obligations to young kids for ~15 years. Then again you'll have a relationship with them for ~50 years, so it's a small fraction of time for the many decades of love.