[mitrick2]

I was almost exactly where you are four years ago. 32, married, with two kids and one on the way, when I started my company four years ago. One of the most important things I did before making the jump was sit down with my wife, explain why I felt I needed to start the business (pursuit of a passion, happiness in career, etc...), and then we discussed at length the potential impact it would have on our lives together. This doesn't make it any easier, but it does help to set expectations and ensure you are going in it together with eyes wide-open.

Along the way, you are going to have to work your butt off to ensure the success of the business (no one else will care more about it than you), but its important to remember that starting your own business also creates some amount of freedom. No boss to ask for an hour or two off here and there. Pick your kids up from school, have a random lunch with your wife, work remotely while taking the family on vacation. If family is important, than a startup is actually a means to create more freedom in your life and spend quality time with them.

YMWV, but you need to find a way to make it work to pursue your passion. If you don't, you nor your family will end up happy :)

Good luck!

[cannuk]

This is awesome. It's hard when working a full time job and attempting a startup to think that at the point where your business is your full time gig, that the freedom will allow for opportunities you can't have with a 9 - 5. May I ask what business you started?