Hmmm, I was under the impression that most studies indicate that general overall happiness peaks right after a couple gets married. It drops after having kids and never really gets back to the original levels until they grow up and are out of the house. (Obviously large generalities there.)
In fact if I remember correctly, there was a large study that was done in 2009 the loudly proclaimed that their work showed proof (that ran contrary to most other studies) and that happiness actually increased as the number of children went up. Several months later they had to retract the entire body of work because the researchers later realized that their spreadsheets/data was messed up.
Regardless, I've always been of the notion that once you have kids, your life is no longer about "you" and becomes all about them for the rest of your life. Or for the next two decades. At least if you are doing it correctly. There are rewards to be had either path I am sure.
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