I'm not calling you a troll I was talking about one. I have no issues with you or your posting.
That's good, I generally enjoy your replies. I often disagree with you (repectfully I hope), you're used to people disagreeing I imagine - see any mortgage payoff thread (multiple pages of disagreement without people looking for merit in your views). In disagreement I learn quite a bit, I've tailored some of your advice to fit my needs, as you know I'm Canadian so it took some extra thought to deal with local banking rules, but I have done so. If you ever think I trolled you in your mortgage threads I'm sorry, I stopped replying when I learned enough.
On topic - I'm under 1 million for savings with a family. My choice is driven by my 2 year old daughter, I choose to take the increased failure risk so I can spend more time at home before she starts school. For myself, Empty Nest is a huge factor. I'm among the cohort, with a family, who decreased total savings to FIRE, precisely to spend more time with them.
Whereas others require more money for FIRE with a family (increased expenses), I took the approach its better to Lean FIRE, for my family. I spent a lot of time considering social bonding, studies showing parental involvement and other potential benefits of increased contact at a young age. At later ages, past 12, I find there's less benefit to having increased parental involvement, its the youngest ages that matter most. It's also the time that most people need to pad their stash the most, a significant contradicting priority. What's better; time with your preschool children or increased financial security for your children?
I'm gambling on working later if necessary, and more time now is best. I see merit in my decision, I think its worth considering, decreasing the stash to spend more time with children.
However, since I'm Canadian the number is artificially lower, no medicare worries here. My children will also receive paid for tuition, no worries there.