BTW, to baron rouge (me thinks), you mentioned that you want to "live out your dream"(or something like that). My oh my, are you in for a rude awakening! Flying 121 is 180 degrees from getting in your 172. In your 172, you can fly where you want, when you want, with who you want, as low as you want (see FARS), how you want to fly it, you can stop at any airport you want etc etc etc,............etc.
As a 121 pilot, you WORK when THEY want you to work, you fly what they tell you to, how they want you to fly it, where they want you to fly it, and with whom they want you to fly it with! Etc etc etc
I've been both a saab captain and a heavy FO, and it don't matter, they both are WORK. This isn't fun, and anyone who says that it is, is not sure what fun really is.
Oh and what galaxy said about providing for a family. Be responsible. You owe it to your kids. This is not some lifetime movie where a parent pursues their dreams and their kids admire them for it. Get real. Cash is king in this world.