I'm 42 and my kids are about to be 14 and 11. I can tell you unequivocally that the "little kids phase" of life is brutal. You lose yourself as an individual for years, and anyone who tells you they never have regrets at that point is probably not being fully honest.

But once you get through it and your kids become more self-sufficient (as we've taught them to be), it's actually quite awesome and now I have zero regrets.

But again, the road to this point can be long and arduous.

If you want a full picture, ask people who are beyond the point that your friend is at.