When I had my first daughter, unplanned, when I was 23, I didn&#x27;t quite understand the gravity of what had happened.  I&#x27;m only 36.  I&#x27;m in the best shape of my life (although RA is constantly trying to steal that away) and my daughter is excelling at a ton of activities.  It&#x27;s a ton of fun to watch her grow.  We have recently adopted a newborn, and I&#x27;m looking forward to starting the experience again while multitasking a much older child at the same time.<p>I have a work from home job with a low stress company, doing complicated, but not overwhelming or ground breaking, work.  I live in a small city with a decent cost of living.  I get paid decently... One of the big three offered me a significant amount more than what I am making now, and felt comfortable rejecting the offer.<p>My goals have been simplified down to making sure that I do right by my children.  Watching them succeed is #1.  Me not being there because I&#x27;m trying to run a business or getting overworked by one of the big three is not going to do her any favors.  I make more than enough to pay for lessons for whatever she wants to do, and still be able to make sure my wife and I can retire.  I would rather sit down with her and discuss life and its myriad positives and negatives than chase money.  Or play video games with her, or an instrument, or make sure I make her parent teacher conference.<p>It took a bit of meditation to actually convince myself that the money and recognition pipe dream just didn&#x27;t have the same value as her success, and it really helped me understand my father who was a welder, putting so much focus into my siblings to try to make sure we succeed -- why he sold his business and took a job where he would have a steady income in exchange for the joy he took working long hours, but having complete control over his work.  And he did take joy in it, I totally get it.  I now understand the sacrifice.  When he sees his children attaining success, he is overjoyed.<p>My children are my monument.  Their grand adventure is mine.