5 years as a single dad, thought I'd share how different life is
Got divorced when my son was 2. I was a corporate guy working 60 hour weeks, missed so much with him. Now I'm running my own consulting thing from home, doing school pickup, packing lunches, actually there for bedtime. Yeah I make less money and my house is basically a toy explosion, but I wouldn't trade it. My son calls me his best friend. The guy I was before would think this is crazy, but man this is the life I needed.
Five years of that kind of growth is incredible. Being there for him at 2 and beyond instead of chasing the corporate ladder, that's the stuff that sticks with him. Sounds like you found what really matters.