How much time does a child really get with their 9-5 parent? Add in the commuting, overtime, etc..... My wife worked days and saw little of the children except on weekends for the first 10 years. I worked steady nights and sacrificed sleep so I could be there for the kids for 6 years, but when I took on the day job there were months where the kids barely ever saw me during the busy season. That is a reality for all except the bureacrats and teachers.