New dad here, almost a year into it and it really is a life of sacrifice. Having children is a blessing, and causes a life of asceticism in the sense you have to give up interests and things you want to do. Now I understand what my father went through raising me. And he never asked to be repaid, he knew it was his duty to raise me according to God's will.
Does it suck that I can't go out whenever I want, go on vacations to party, wash cars, play video games, and etc.? A part of me wants to say yes because those things are fun. But I can see how having children can be a blessing by keeping me home and my focus on God and my family rather than pretty girls, cool cars and amazing vacation spots. And staying home and playing with my family brings a whole different kind of joy, that I would have never experienced before.
I been listening to this podcast, and thought it could help some of us through hard times of sacrificing what we want for our families/children.