I can only speak of my own experience and the mistake I made in choosing the wrong person to invest my life in. I've seen others that have had successful parenting lives in the world and here on SS, but my own was beyond difficult and had such an impact that the repercussions are with me to this day.
This is an excerpt from my first thread here:
"Years ago I was a good looking man with a decent job and a part time music career, no major hits but performed regularly and had no problems meeting women. I gave most of that up to marry beautiful woman and have a child, who turned out to be the wrong person to invest my life in. This led to divorce, 7 court battles, 3 states jurisdictions, child abduction, parental alienation, and ultimately estrangement. I spent the last 20 years, almost every penny I made, put all of my personal relationships as 2nd priority, fighting to be part of my child's life and ended up with less than nothing but emotional scars."
I don't want to throw fear tactics at you, but choosing the right person to invest your life in is one of the toughest decisions a man can make, and I'll admit I didn't do well with that decision.
I may be one of the extreme cases and not the norm, but it can at least point out what's at stake and how bad things can turn.
Best wishes on your path.