I have been flying for more than 30 years: approximately half with the military and the other half here in HKG. The following quote sums up my feelings perfectly:
I would never encourage a family member to follow this career, and I know I am not alone in this sentiment, nor am I proud of it
Simple as that...
Edited to add: There is a quote from someone that goes along the lines of: "Find a job that you love and you will never have to work a day in your life". I suspect many, if not all of us, started out like this, but the brutal reality is that being an airline pilot now is a very tough gig. Can you think of one other profession where you are not allowed to take your skills and experience to another employer?