That was my first thought, too. I've gone through some pretty shitty times as an entrepreneur, but my wife is always there to pick me up, dust me off, and offer her unconditional support. I lived in a car for three months in Silicon Valley without her, and she put up with it like a champ, supporting me in every imaginable way.

Man, she's awesome.

Then you'd better make sure you're listening closely to what she wants in life and move mountains to make sure she gets it.

Yup

That's amazing, but almost unfathomable to me. Maybe My childhood was absent of female affection, but wow if I could meet someone like that... then again I would probably push her away because I wouldn't feel like I deserved it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impostor_syndrome ?

Yes, I believe there's nothing on God's good planet that can compare to the love a man receives from a caring woman. Nothing. (And I don't even believe in God.)

give it a rest

s/(wo)?man/partner/g

I had a rough day today. I got home, and the dog was as excited to see me on a bad day as he is on my best day. We went for our walk--sun, grass, the park--and it dulled the bite of the day a bit. My wife got home, and she was as wonderful on a bad day as she is on my best day. We went to dinner, and by the time we got home, the day hardly seemed like much.

I know it's a privilege, but (my) family doesn't measure me by anything more than how much care I put into it, and I get back far more than I put in. It really is (to me) the most important thing to have.

I really, really do not recommend doing a family with kids and a startup at the same time. That is hardcore mode.

Family is hugely important but try to avoid both startup mode and family mode at the same time.

Jeff Atwood Coding Horror?

This is a deeply personal decision but I regret leaving it too long to have kids. There's no right time to have kids - if you wait for the right time you risk missing out.

If I found myself in a decision point between startup and kids then, knowing then what I know now, I would and should have chosen kids over startup. Startups come and go, the chance to have kids does not come back once gone.

You have just made my day, and possibly gave me the motivation I thought I had lost. My partner and I are expecting (no planned). And I had wondered how on earth I would cope continuing with my start-up and raising a child. but seeing that not only are other people doing it, but they outlook is positive. man. I feel like I have been saved.

Totally agree. Having kids is a window in life that is much Shorter than the window for doing a startup. I was a bit crazy and had two little ones when I started and a third not too long ago. I know many others who have done both as well.

Best thing I've ever done (and still doing) is raising my son. For me this tops any entrepreneurial/career success I've had so far.

It's doable (I have a 2.5 year old and a 2 month old). But it's really all about your partner. If they're in it like you are, you can make do.

Couldn't imagine doing this with an unsupportive partner.

Exactly this. This holds true of any activity, but especially those which take more time from family. It takes two to make the family unit work. But be prepared at some point to pay it back in some way shape or form.

> That is hardcore mode.

I agree that it's hard (I have three) but it's like anything else, if that is what makes you fail, you probably wouldn't have succeeded anyway.

I have 4 kids. Agree 100%, it seems to me that the kids take time from work, but also bring incentive to work harder, for more extrinsic reasons like providing for them. In the end, I think I am better not worse for it.

I agree with reservations. Many people have relationships that are unfit for the long haul. Other people can't really live with other people.

Having a supportive family is absolutely wonderful, but you can still win at life without a family; don't let anyone convince you of the opposite.

Would recommend going through a divorce while building a startup for the ultimate entrepreneurial "nightmare mode". Great for building a tough skin after it's all over. Some founders come back home to an unconditionally supportive partner, others come back to a bunch of legal paperwork.

I actually did just that.

Nowadays I prefer to rent a single room in a shared house. Thats really all the space I require to be happy. my futon, my desk, my electric piano, a workbench, a couple bookshelves and my cat.

How is day to day happiness? I'm only 29 and I want to live like that forever but I can't imagine it's conducive to an active sex life. (Again, I'm young, hopefully testosterone tapers off substantially as the years go on.)

100+ to this.