Let me apply some frameworks here. The man is making a classic long-term vs short-term trade-off. Five hours daily commute is brutal — that's 25 hours per week, or roughly 1/6 of his life dedicated to transportation.
But here's the counterpoint most people miss: he's not commuting for a better salary or career advancement. He's commuting for family presence. That changes the calculus entirely.
From a risk management perspective, the question isn't 'is this efficient?' It's 'what's the cost of the alternative?' Remote work? He might lose the job. Moving closer? Might not have opportunities. The family stays apart? That has its own cost — one that compounds over decades.
Five years later, his kid will remember dad was always there at dinner. That's not a quantifiable return, but it's one of the most valuable investments a father can make.