[eliam]

I came to this same conclusion recently. It's great to spend time with the kids but there's a lot to be said for setting an example. I changed jobs to be closer to home after my second child was born. It's been over a year now and I'm realizing that being a good father is not just about spending quality time with your kids. It's also about teaching our kids to follow their dreams and find work that they truly enjoy. What better way to teach them this? This is why I'm making an effort to change my situation ASAP.

[mikecaron]

Jonathan Coulton comes to mind. He left his boring job as a programmer to pursue music as a way to make a living. He does not sacrifice family time for his "dream", but provides an example of a dad doing something he enjoys to make money for the family while having fun with the family.

[eliam]

My situation is a little different. I actually enjoy programming. What I miss is the satisfaction of building solutions to real problems and working with other developers who are as passionate and dedicated their work as I am. We put a lot of effort into becoming the best we can. It's nice to have the opportunity to put those skills to good use.