Parenting and a Career in Coding?

el topher asks: "After 5+ years of being married, my wife and I have been blessed by her becoming pregnant. I've professionally been a programmer for a while now and am now concerned that commercial software development is not a good job for a dad to have. Thinking back on all the software development groups I've been in, it seems most of the coders were not parents, and the coders that were parents seemed to have trouble with things like dealing with unplanned death marches and not being there for their family. So my question to the programmers with kids out there: How does a programming career jive with family life? I'd especially like to hear about parents who have been coding for a while and the situations in this area they've faced."

Comments

Outsourcing (I wouldn't worry)

[ari_j]

Don't worry so much - you have 9 months before you're a parent, and your job will be outsourced by then. Make sure your wife has opportunities lined up for after she gives birth, so you can take care of your child while she brings home the money.

Telecommute.

[Axe]

Find a job that allows you to be productive telecommuting.

Re:Change the where, not the what.

[Hatta]

I personally don't need a job, I only need *money*. Working is a pointless waste of time if you look at it objectively.

That's really sad. Perhaps you should look into a career doing something you enjoy?

Re:Exactly

[rhinoX]

I'm the father of your wife's baby.

Well as long as someone is around. :)