Common Questions · People & relationships

Life after financial independence

Does retiring early make parenting easier?

More availability can be deeply valuable, while the demands of caring for children remain real.

Being present can become a central reward

His children, woodworking, golf and teaching projects shaped life after startups. He valued being available for important moments in his children’s lives.

“I'm there for everything important in their lives.”

u/h2m3m Sep 2026 · Year 3 Read original by u/h2m3m (opens in a new tab)

Loving family life does not remove the difficult days

With two children, paid help and an involved partner, she still sometimes felt trapped by newborn routines. She considered retirement the right move while continuing to seek direction.

“I still feel trapped sometimes.”

u/sky-high-dragon-fly Apr 2026 · Year 0.83 Read original by u/sky-high-dragon-fly (opens in a new tab)

Availability also requires attention

Retirement highlighted the difference between being physically at home and being mentally absorbed by work.

“It is a massive adjustment to step away”

ESI Millionaire 423 Jul 2024 Interview snapshot · published 2024-10 Read original by ESI Millionaire 423 (opens in a new tab)

Different experiences, drawn from the people in our collection. Summaries are ours; quotations are theirs.

Explore all 38 questions

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