I think one should not wait for anything, when you are raising kids you should also be you and enjoy when you can! it's not easy but it's possible.

Your quiver is full. You are blessed.

X’er here. I’m a dad, but I respect the moms with the beautiful families way more than the party girls- you all are building the future.

To your last point, though, this conversation keeps coming up with my 40-50 something acquaintances. We’re all sandwiched, as you describe. At the same time, a lot of us are also starting to do quite well materially (not all bitcoiners, either). From the conversations I’m having, most of us aren’t going to keep working till 80 (our fathers), nor go sit on a beach/golf course at 65. Most of us plan to start stepping back, ditching the 9-5, but planning to be healthy, and long living, get paid to do things we truly love. At some point, not even being too concerned whether it is paid or volunteered. I hope we’re right.

Sorry for the novel

No.

You'll have exactly 17 minutes to live comfortably when you retire at 97.

Of course, that's if you take no vacation time off until then

I mean that's kind of how it usually works :/

Here is a Bespoke Memetic Artwork inspired by your post.

Living during The Greater Depression & WW3 really fucking sucks. Times are tough for all of us and it did not always used to be this way. Whether you are a parent, grandparent, or have no children of your own. It is a daily struggle just to survive.

When you feel like you are going to drop dead from exhaustion remember that whether things get better, or things get worse. You will always be truly wealthy as long as you still have your family. They need you and you need them. It is the fuel that will keep your heart beating when the rest of your body collapses from exhaustion into bed every night.

If that isn't enough to ease your inner turmoil then remember this. If you are fortunate to become too old to take care of yourself. Your family will be there to take care of you if you raised them right. Kids are the ultimate investment in your happiness and your future. Remember that when you are commuting on the struggle bus to parenting city every day of the week. It is a small consolation prize that is truly priceless once you begin to see the bigger picture.

I sincerely hope things get better for all of us and for you soon. So that we all no longer have to live in a world where simply earning a good enough living to take care of our families. Finally becomes normal again.

GN

#wisdom

My wife and I had kids early and never regretted it. Looking at 40 somethings taking kids to kindergarten is grim.

As for paying for my kids after they finish college, fuck that. I love them but if they can't stand on their own feet by then, then I've failed them as a parent.

A useful way to avoid having to support grown up children, is to have enough kids that it isn't even possible to support them as grownups. If you can't support them all, then in the interest of fairness you aren't obliged to support any of them. 👍

We work hard now

so we can work harder later.

Trapped between the generation that got everything easy and the generation that is entitled to everything.

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