If you are talking about your wife here, I hope you guys talked about this before getting married. If not, well I'll save it.
I think being a parent depends entirely on the type of people you and your wife are. I know many people who went into shells after having kids, never went out, and were always trying to cater to their kids. I also know people who have no problem taking their kids everywhere.
Parenting is a dynamic thing and it all depends on you (OK a little on you child's disposition
).
Personally, I have never had a better time in my life than the first month and a half of my daughters life. I have never brewed so much and still see my friends and do everything I did before. Now to temper that, my wife and I never went to big party bars or out to crazy things. We prefer quality bars filled with quite people, good music, and better beer and/or wine. I.e., the places we went to before we can go to with our daughter.
We take her out to eat with us just as much as before. Now, if she cries one of us has to sacrifice and go outside with her or to the car or whatever until she calms down, but that is a small sacrifice IMO.
Sibella, has helped my brew 3 times in her first 6 weeks of life and will be brewing her first Am. wheat this coming weekend.
So basically it is up to you. If you think fondly of being a father and teaching a child about life and how to be productive in it, go for it. Unwrap the soldier and get 'r done.
If, however, you are not excited or TRULY ready to be a father, please do the rest of us a favor and wait!!! I am strongly against people procreating out of guilt for letting down a spouse or partner. Parenting takes a team, and if one parent is not playing or not interested it will ruin your relationship. You should talk over parenting styles and all sorts of stuff before making the decision, and being confident and excited when you decide it is time.
These are all just my opinions of course. What do I know, I am just a punk kid.