Additional Coverage:
- I retired at 41 to spend time with my grandkids. I supplemented my income with part-time work. (businessinsider.com)
This grandpa traded army life for baby bottles! After over two decades in the British Army, this dedicated granddad decided his next mission was all about family.
Having missed much of his own children’s growing up years, he was determined to be a constant presence in the lives of his grandchildren. At 41, with the arrival of his first grandchild, Daisy, he took a leap of faith and retired from the military.
Relying initially on his military pension, he moved closer to his children and embraced the joys of grandparenthood.
Over the next seven years, his family blossomed with the arrival of four more grandchildren. He became the ultimate babysitter, chauffeur, and playmate, cherishing the moments he missed with his own kids.
As the grandchildren grew and started school, he picked up a part-time job at a local supermarket. But stacking shelves wasn’t his calling.
Inspired by his trusty Seiko watch, he discovered a passion for watchmaking.
He honed his skills through online tutorials and a year-long course, all while juggling supermarket shifts and granddad duties. Now, at 61, he runs his own watch repair business, working during school hours, and often has a grandchild by his side as he tinkers.
Though the income isn’t always predictable, the joy he finds in his craft and the time he spends with his family makes it all worthwhile. For this granddad, retirement wasn’t about slowing down, but about finding a new purpose and embracing the precious moments with his loved ones.