I never intended to start something called Modern Grandad. I was simply trying to become a better grandfather. Somewhere along the way, I realised that the more I invested in my grandson... the more I changed.
People often think purpose comes from looking inward. I’ve found the opposite. Purpose usually arrives when your attention moves outward. Toward something greater than yourself. Toward people who matter. Toward becoming useful again.
That’s why this final model isn’t really about grandparenting. It’s about reinvention. Real reinvention isn’t pretending you’re thirty again. It’s becoming more useful at sixty-five than you were at fifty-five. Different role. Same contribution.
Modern Grandad has changed my own life. It’s made me healthier. More curious. More optimistic. It’s pushed me to learn about child development, neuroscience, education, storytelling, play and leadership. Not because anyone told me to. Because I know someone small is watching.
That’s the unexpected gift. We think we’re shaping grandchildren. Quite often... they’re shaping us. My grandson is my life coach in nappies.
If you’re reading this and something here resonates, don’t feel like you need permission to start or you need to become extraordinary. You don’t need the courage of a lion, the wisdom of Buddha or the confidence of a Formula One driver. Just... a bit of spine, a willing mind and a daily dose of mild discomfort and you’ll find your way.
So will the child who’s watching you.
So that’s the idea. Now let’s make it about you.
