Would you gamble on your future?

[AardvarkPuppies]

abc

[SunnyDays]

Does it have to be one or the other?  Could you just work regular hours now, until your son is in school and your daughter is older and then return to overtime shifts then?  Would being “extremely wealthy” be worth missing so much of your kids’ lives?  Don’t underestimate the impact of your frequent absences on their development - dads fulfill different parenting roles than moms as a rule, which are important to both sons and daughters.  The time you spend with them and the things you teach them are much more important than what you can buy them.  So you can see which way I’m leaning...

[Fuzz]

I dunno. Just work less overtime, and save it?

Some people are "satisficers" where they make enough to satisfy a goal and then quit. I read about a study of cab drivers--doesn't matter if the study is true for our purposes. When it was busy, the cab drivers all quickly reached their goal of $100 and then quit early. When it was slow, they stayed late and reached the goal of $100 and worked more hours. The economically efficient thing to do would have been for the cabbies to work longer when it was busy, make more than $100 and then when it was slow, cut it off early and make less than $100.

If you were going to follow the same pattern, you could try to bank $10k in OT for the year. Once you reach that number, you stop doing OT for the rest of the year.

I would definitely get off the do as much OT now as you possibly can train. But I would totally consider doing more OT in relationship to a goal (extra $10K/year or fancy vacation or kids expense or whatever...)

[Fuzz]

Also, you should just do whatever your wife wants. Happy wife... :)

[reeshau]

This is difficult being away from my family, and it gets less appealing as my oldest is starting school soon.  I also have a newborn son.  I missed out on a fair amount of my daughters early years just by needing to work.  It makes me sad to think about missing out on that time again with my son.  I have been home for 7 weeks since he's been born and have another 5 weeks off until I return to duty.  This experience has changed my perspective of how I spend my time.

I have a 5 year old.  You will never get this time back.  Your wife needs your help with the kids, and you will cherish the memories you are there for.  The time will come when your kids want to be with their friends more than you.  Dread that time.  Look forward to that time.  If you still have it in you, you can go back to the OT when you feel that is the right balance for your family.  Or, you will move on to another chapter, as many do.  You have a pension and a good ability to save.  There are no guarantees in life, but You're about as set as someone can be.  Enjoy yourself.

[LifeHappens]

OP, when I was a kid my dad worked many, many long hours and overtime shifts. He did so because he didn't have a choice. It was what he had to do to support his family.

You are saying you could work much less, save more than enough and have much more time with your family. Do it! Seriously. I would give anything to have had more time with my dad when I was young.