Sorry to hear about the death of any skateboarder, especially when it's accident related. Always seems so pointless, like those sorts of things always happen to the best people. RIP
As far as kids and the whole family life thing goes, you just have to make time for you. It's hard for sure and you definitely need an understanding partner. I have a 3 year old son, between potty training, running after him, cleaning up countless messes, feeding and entertaining him it's hectic. But it's rewarding and 99 percent of the time he just puts a smile on my face. Getting to be a part of someone growing up, seeing your ideas, ethics and beliefs rub off in a positive way on a child is pretty amazing. It's certainly not for everyone, but I'm stoked on being a part of a family and am looking forward to adding another rugrat or two down the road. I'll be 38 this December, never really wanted kids until the last few years, now I'm excited about it.
The best part is when he wants to ride his bike-he has one of those little balance bikes-and he tells me to get my skateboard and go with him. It's so fun to be cruising down a hill with him smiling the whole way. It's also scary as shit trying to watch out for cars and crap because even though I've been teaching him to be aware of his surroundings and that cars hurt-he's three and doesn't really pay attention. On the plus side, I take him to bike trails in town and skate with him and no one really says shit to me about skating the trail, same thing when I take him to a park or something, I can get a few licks in on some benches or ledges and no one really pays attention cause it's like I'm just skating around with my son. Win-win.
How often do I get to skate? Besides just pushing around with the kiddo-I get out at lunch during work at least 2-3 times a week, then maybe early Sunday morning most weeks. I try to get out at least one evening after work too but that can be difficult and now that the weather is cooling off it's even harder. I recently moved from the midwest to the southwest though-have to say the weather here for October is a hell of a lot nicer than it was back in Missouri.
My joints are stiff and sore, I feel like I was beaten with a bat the night before when I get up after skating the previous day. I eat 500-1000 mg ibuprofen every day and I can't eat anything with sugar or that's high in carbs cause I'll just get fatter overnight. I work, take care of a family, pay my bills and try to be a decent human being, all while squeezing in a little skating when I can. I'm more content with life right now than I've ever been. I don't think there's only one way to live your life, interesting to read how many of us there are out there. I don't advertise that I skate, realizing there's quite a few guys out there like me, just doing there thing and hitting the streets or parks when they get the chance between raising a family and work. Cheers to you all.