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Comment by codinghorror | Hacker News Reader

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.

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