False dichotomy fallacy. There's plenty of programmers I admire who aren't apparently parents. And there's happiness studies which show neither a positive nor a negative gain when parenthood arrives.
Curious footnote: I tried to google further studies that creativity goes down once fatherhood strikes (which I have read in the past), and instead found this piece: https://onbeing.org/blog/becoming-a-father-restored-my-creat...
Please read what was written, and what I replied.
> If you're[…]
I'm not. Your comment is completely disconnected from what I said.
> learning each new whizbang whatsit that comes out
Is that the only way you know how to improve yourself professionally? If so then I think you're doing it wrong.
If you're a developer doing network stuff, then given a few years you could get a CCIE or something, and learn tonnes of stuff and be a more valuable employee. You don't have to try to stay on top of the latest developments in SDN. That'd probably be a waste of time.
If you're focusing on learning each new whizbang whatsit that comes out, you'll never learn how to lead a team. You'll teach your employer that you can be abused, because you are desperate to impress them.
Giving up a family to stay ahead will leave you a lonely, burned out mess. This is a marathon, brother, not a sprint.