Do you have family nearby or some sort of support system for your significant other home with the kids? Or are the kids in school or day care all day while the s/o works? Just curious... Our girls will start some sort of a montessori this year and I think the pressure will be relieved somewhat. But with my wife at home (or running around) with them by herself all day, if I decided I was going to take on a 30 mile each way commute I'd be considered completely selfish. As it is, Monday and Wednesday I will have to leave the office at 5p sharp (and have no flats or other mishaps) to get home by 5:45 so she can make it to teach her 6:00 yoga classes. Still haven't completely figured that one out yet...

I do believe that we have set our society up (especially here in USA) such that people are too busy, too disconnected from natural support systems, too far apart, too far from work and shopping... We try to keep that in mind when we make our choices, but my family still struggles with overcommitment. C'est la vie...