Each of us has been given our own skills and talents not just as dads, but as employees too.
I consider myself fortunate to be able to work full time and also teach Java Web Programming and General Computer Science at Portland Community College. I started teaching about 4 years ago for some extra cash, with the expectation that I'd only do it for a term or two (at least that was what my wife and I discussed at the time).
We got used to the extra income in no time, and it didn't even take a year before that extra income became part of our regular budget. I was stuck. I even tried quitting one summer in hopes that it would force us to scale back on our budget. Wishful, naive thinking. I guess some can do it, but not us
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A couple of weeks ago I negotiated a significant raise for my full time job as a software consultant. It's almost enough to replace my teaching income, and it would only take me a couple hours of overtime each week to completely match my teaching income.
Hmm... it sure is tempting to quit teaching. I still have a little over a month before the next term starts. And the income from a few web sites I started this last summer is starting to roll in. So I think the money situation will be ok. I sure would like more free time too. But if I keep teaching then we'd have a chance to get ahead, so I'm still undecided.
Feel free to throw advice my way - I'm all ears. What do you think I should do? Settle for the regular ration of bacon, or bring home the whole pig? 
One possible compromise would be to limit my teaching availability to online classes only. The class I'm teaching this term is an online class, which means I can log on any time of the day to answer questions and grade assignments - but I don't have to show up for a lecture. It doesn't kill my family time, and the pay is the same. It involves a lot more writing to create the assignments, but that's all been done now, so it's just a matter of tweaking the assignment each term as technology is updated. Not all instructors like this approach, but it works great for me 

). We agreed to wait until tomorrow to send it, but I'm pretty sure it's going to feel really good to let go of it. 
getting off the treadmill
when i was younger, making money seemed like the most important thing in life. i honestly thought that i could handle any job as long as it paid well. i was willing to do anything. and i did...
along the way, i adjusted my budget to the increasing income.
now, as i approach "mid-life", i'm realizing that the trappings of a large income are fleeting. i find myself trapped by my budget, doing work i don't love, or even like. what i really love doesn't pay very well but it would be so much more rewarding...
i say don't fill your life with drudgery because you think you need the money. instead, change your lifestyle to meet your smaller budget and find rewards you weren't expecting.
"Don't hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rust and burglars. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being." Matt 6:19-21 The Message