>>508688755"only satisfaction I get is..." โ you need to re-frame that mindset. It seems you recognise your kids bring you happiness, and that/they are actually the key to long term happiness. Not because "they will entertain me", but because they will want you around, and you will be able to around.Because yer, right now might be hard, but once they are independent, it can be all good times.
I work in construction/mining, and I know old blokes that have recently retired. There's all sorts of stories (happy wife = happy life, etc), but 1 that stuck with me was a bloke that was no longer cared for his wife especially, nor his late-teens kids, but he grinded through, and then nek-minnit he's getting to retirement age and his wife is organising so many BBQ's etc with the kids, and they were always coming around with new partners/grandkids/etc โ and it sounds like it just got better and better. AND he was still earning more and more money (was one of those early-post-boomers), so he could buy a bigger boat to all go all out on, or but better BBQ to cook a bigger feed, etc. It seemed+sounded like it got better and better for him!