Motherhood, Grandmother stuff - Did we gain more or give up too much?

Well, youngest daughter is back at college (just in time before the drive would have been REALLY nasty), daughter #2 has returned to work after giving us an amazing granddaughter, other daughter wishes for a family.  I had a long conversation with DD #2 recently, about how motherhood has changed for most of us.  I was fortunate to stay home with my oldest two when they were pre-school age, and my youngest until she was two, and yet still get an education and a career in the mix.  Do I regret some of the opportunities that no doubt passed me by, as others fast tracked into upper management?  Nope.  I'm old enough (and mature enough, I hope) to see what some of them have given up (and they are welcome to all that stress).  I was on that fast track, but, stepped off, and have declined the opportunity to climb back on.  Why?  The things I regret weren't promotions, more money, impressive titles.  The things were moments in time that I can never reclaim, that were fleeting.  I remember being on call, and being called away from my youngest daughter's soccer game, rushing back, only to find out I missed her first goal.  I remember my oldest daughter, dressed in a long green dress, heels, etc., coming to the hospital where I worked (and couldn't get the evening off) to let me see her before she went to a formal dance (I remember medical residents and doctors gawking, too, but, that's another story).  For her senior prom, I did take the whole day off, did her hair for her, and even sewed her into the dress (another long story). 
I remember not being able to drive my middle daughter to cheer leading practice, because I was working. 
The moments I most treasure were fleeting and special.  First days of school.  Graduations.  Halloween parades.  Parent teacher meetings.  Each birthday (except one when my daughter decided to go to Canada for her special week - which was totally beyond my control).  Weddings.  The first hours of my first grandchild's life.  The ghosts of memories run through family pictures and echo in the empty nest of our home.
My daughter faced returning to work, leaving her six week old baby in capable (other) grandmother hands.  What did we gain?  That was her question, after she asked me what it had been like to stay home with my babies for so much longer.  What did we gain, giving up so much with our children.  I tried to describe the women I had known, growing up.  Capable women, who gave up professional careers, because it was expected "once you get married and have a family".  My grandmother who had taught school, loving every minute of it, and then stopping when she married, because she was "expected" to.  My grandfather was a good man, a finish carpenter and farmer who could create magic with his hands.  A man of few words, a little education.  They had a happy marriage and loved their three children. 
It was my grandmother who told me  "You can be anything.  You can have everything.  You won't have to choose."  She was wise, and far ahead of her time.  It's true in some ways - two of my daughters have college degrees, another is in college (and I have a couple of degrees myself).  We have opportunities, choices, that my grandmother didn't have.  She taught me to love books, explained the intricacies of heart chambers (with a chicken heart), tried to teach me to sew (I'm still working on that).  She didn't know, however, that you can't really have it all.  You have opportunities, choices - and responsibilities.
My husband and I both earn roughly the same (my hourly rate is higher, but, he works more hours).  Our house isn't as nice, or as expensive as the ones our married daughters have.  My youngest daughter's car is newer than mine (she earned every penny of its purchase price, working throughout high school) and has more gadgets.  Our house has been mortgaged multiple times over the years, paying for educations (yes, we've paid it off several times), medical emergencies, etc.  I haven't had the financial ability to stay home for years. 
My daughter doesn't have that choice, either.  She still has student loans (we couldn't pay for it all), car payments, a mortgage.  Her husband also has student loans, a car payment, etc.  They both have busy careers and a beautiful baby daughter.
So, yes, we gave up moments we will never have.  We will have choices of quality vs. success.  I wish I had the wisdom to say it's totally worth it.  I can't.  You just have to make time for the moments that matter, and try to make the right choices.
I wish I could give my daughter the time with her baby she's struggling for.  Because, you never know what it is to love a child, until they crawl into your life and enlarge your heart with so much love you can't believe how it feels.

No answers here.  Just thoughts.