Check out this thread....

http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/mi...f-stay-go.html

As far as QOL and kids, I feel that as a lineholder the airline is a net positive. I'm gone a fair amount, but when I'm home I can spend days on end with my kids, as opposed to the average upper/middle manager who will arrive home each day late, tired, and stressed out. Even little ones seem OK with it once they figure out the battle rhythm.

Of course if you are commuting to reserve, that's a different story.

I enjoy most aspects of actually flying. I enjoy drinking my coffee on a quiet climb-out with the sun just lighting up the horizon. But I didn't enjoy getting up at 0430, two times zones ahead of where I live, and doing a preflight in 5 degree F / 35 knot winds. Most of us mil types can hack that kind of stuff though.