I make a good living and I'm fairly financially literate, but having kids is making me realize how little money I actually make

I'm a resident of the USA, and I'm 38 with two kids.<br><br>I make a little over double the national average, at around 120k post tax each year. I feel like I have a good grasp of money management, and I've done a good job of budgeting and saving. I live in a fairly cheap area, which helps.<br><br>I'm fairly high up in my career field, and I work fairly normal hours... 40 hrs/week. I'm pretty happy with my career and I do feel rewarded, although it is a job. Still, fairly balanced for the rewards and the difficulty.<br><br>I've saved enough that I have a decent emergency fund, and I've also saved for college and retirement. My house is fully paid off, and I really don't have any debt besides some credit card debt that I can pay off over the next month or two.<br><br>But money is tight. I feel like I'm in a position where I'm doing everything I should be doing, but I'm still constantly worried about money. I really don't make enough to feel comfortable. Money is a constant source of stress. <br><br>Now that I have kids, I'm realizing how little I actually make. My costs have exploded, and I make little enough that I have to really think hard about every purchase. Every time I want to take my kids out for dinner or to an event, I have to carefully consider whether it's in the budget or not. I feel like I'm constantly saying no.<br><br>We're to the point where we're having to make difficult decisions about quality of life. I have to choose between things like paying for my kids' swimming lessons or hiring someone to mow my lawn. <br><br>I realize that I make a lot more than the average person in this country, but it doesn't feel like it. It feels like I'm living hand to mouth. I don't make nearly enough to actually enjoy life. I feel like I make little enough that I can't new experiences or take advantage of new opportunities. <br><br>I love my kids, but I wonder if it was all worth it. Having them seems to have removed any sense of freedom or peace I had in my life.