I've been in a similar situation. Twice. Although I live with the guilt of my career potential, I don't really regret the sacrifices I made to tend to my family over the last couple of years as some interesting opportunities have come up as a result of it that wouldn't have been available had I made my career a priority. Not to mention valuable life experience and a different perspective on life after going through all that crap. Yeah, this path may be a lot bumpier than others and full of potholes, but at least one will have the opportunity to admire/observe the landscape while traveling through it. Who knows, perhaps you'll come up with a new startup idea as a result of it...C'est la vie.
