I appreciate your concerns
and advice .Do not get me wrong kids are very happy spending every second we can together.Apart from major holidays they have a cheerful lifestyle.I am adamant I have it in balance .
Furthermore it is vital you have a supportive spouse and work as a team.
The crunch ,as you say will be about split shifts ,late finishes etc which in all honesty is a valid consideration as I think many pilots have been or are in this situation.