I am thinking of getting a pet for the family. I have 3 kids and weekends will need to go out for more than half a day. What do you think is a suitable pet to have?

Fish! low maintenance, you can make your kids in charge of feeding and cleaning, you don't have to attend to them all the time, don't have to worry about visitors, no vets are involved and very low initial cost. of course, you cannot cuddle them, but it is a good starting step. Alternately, you can go for turtles. They are always available at the pet shop, and they are again, low maintenance.