It wasn't overnight. Financial independence and first child was a big thing. When I was first diagnosed with cancer, when my wife was pregnant with twins... I've never felt the weight of responsibility than that. But, on the other hand, I lost some independence since family had to step in, take care of me, and take on some of that responsibility, so that was a step backwards.
But maybe the nail in the coffin - really poor choice of words - was the deaths of my wife's parents (drunk driver and cancer) and their youngest moving in with us.
I've had a crazy 9 years, but it's been pretty great, all in all. I'm happy. It's strange to think about, it hindsight, but I've posted about virtually every step of that, between here and GJ.