Is this all worth it?

[Rivy S.]

I currently earn a six figure salary at a pretty non-pressure, but full time, job.  We have 4 small children and would like to have more.  So we've been trying to build our rental portfolio so that I can replace my income and retire, but it's slow going.   

These last couple weeks have been really crazy, selling one house, under contract on one, and starting renovations on a third.  My husband made a comment that really gave me pause.  He said "We're making ourselves totally nuts now, so that when our kids are grown up we won't have to work. "

It's ironic, because of course the whole point in our real estate ventures is to enable me to be more present for our children. But on the way there... it's even harder to be present for our children.  Catch 22.  I'm interested in hearing different perspectives on this.  Any other working moms out there who want to share how they made this work?