I love my bike, more than that – I love getting out on my bike
My wife hates my bike, more than that – she hates it when I get out on my bike
I normally try to get out for a couple of hours a week – or failing that a good 3 or 4 hour ride every second or third weekend.
I work all week and she would appreciate it if I stayed home more to help out, not that I don’t help out. You see we have little ones (3 & 5)

I have basically given up playing golf, reduced my fishing to maybe a couple of times a year and stopped playing Saturday tennis – so I can (in my mind ) justify riding.
But the tension remains
There’s also the accusation of being selfish by doing such a risky thing like riding a motorbike when I have a young family who depend on me – if I got killed or seriously hurt.

Gidday Smoky, that's a bummer. I've been there. You can't give up all your personal interests. I did. They are what define you. If you wife is stuck with the kids most of the time try and make sure she is involved in something else and is busy. There are no easy answers but don't give up all your passions, compromise is good.

Do I ride too much? Probably, but no missus & kids so nobody to stop me. The dog is not that happy when one of the bikes comes out of the shed though...

thats not flash.

I dont like the theory that motorcycling is so dangerous that you shouldnt be doing it cause you have small kids at home. Get out the cotten wool.

As you get older you find time is not on your side. I have a couple of kids a little older than yours and spend time with them - but I do get out on the bike and have time to myself alot. I commute on it which helps me out alot cause if I need to get out on some twisties for a relax I just take the long way home.

I havent used my bike as much as i'd have liked for the past 2 or 3 years.
I kinda settled on an hour or so on sunny sundays but i always managed to
squeeze in at least one tour of europe a year. I used to tour alone as it helped
me clear my head of all the crap and daily routine shit i had going on.
I'm really gonna miss the european trips now i'm in nz. It was something about
the different cultures and languages that made it so cool,theres nothing like camping in
a small french village and joining the locals for a glass of red wine and croisants for breakfast.
There are loads of places i want to see here in nz and the roads look great for bikes so i'm hoping
i can still get my big rides in once the bikes ready for the road.
Dont let the family comitments hold you back you can still get out and enjoy the time with your bike.
My arguement is that i turn into a miserable sod when i cant ride and i know the wife would rather
me have my few hours of me time than put up with me kicking my heels and getting under her feet.
I found i slowed down anyway when we had kids, its just there in the back of your mind and you take
less risks, thats my excuse for riding like a girl now anyway.

There will always be the risk to riding a motorbike...I don't usually think about it while im riding, maybe others do, but i find it just distracts me and then i put myself in danger.
You work a busy week Pete, and im guessing thats taking is tole on ______ . I presume that she stays home all day with the kids? So maybe she feels like she cant get out and do the things SHE wants to do. But your in the same boat because you work so often and away from home, you feel like you need to get out aswell.
Perhaps you could hire a nanny to look after the kids for one or two days a week? (depending on finacial situation of course)
I'm not as old and wise as you are, so maybe you have already thought these things through, or been there.

Im sure you will figure something out You are Pete afterall, one who can drink a bottle of bourbon and fish on some rocks and NOT catch anything