I used to think “side hustle” meant late night Tupperware parties or stuffing envelopes while reruns of Full House played in the background. The kind of thing your neighbor guilt trips you into, and you’re left with a box of unsold whatever in your garage. But after becoming a mom, I realized two things. One, my time is not unlimited. And two, I still wanted something of my own. Not just laundry and leftovers, but something I could grow between school drop offs and snack time, maybe even something that brought in real money.
Let me tell you, finding the right side hustle when you’re already juggling family life is no small task. It took me a while to separate the fluff from the stuff that actually works. But once I did, it changed how I saw my own time, energy, and income.
The Problem with the Hustle Hype
A lot of people love to tell moms to “start a side gig” like it’s the easiest thing in the world. They don’t see the half eaten lunch on the counter or the toddler refusing to nap. I tried a few trendy ideas. I downloaded apps that promised flexible cash but ended up taking hours of my day without giving much in return. Driving around town during dinner hours? Nope. Making calls with a screaming baby in the background? Double nope. [Read more…]