Tell that to the troops who leave their families for over a year at a time, and do so repeatedly.
Family is important, but sometimes you have to do something that "hurts" them in the short run, to protect them in the long run.
Each person has to make the call for themselves, and certainly Polarik has gone above and beyond. He deserves a break. But. the Republic may need him again. If so, I suspect he'll be there when it does.