The Truth About Starting a Side Hustle as a Mom

Lessons From My First Year

Starting a side hustle as a mom in 2025 is both exciting and challenging — especially if, like me, you’re juggling family life, a love for tech, and the dream of building something of your own. In my first year as a mom entrepreneur, I learned that balancing nap schedules with client calls, or switching from LEGO-building to website coding, is a unique kind of multitasking. This post isn’t just about my journey — it’s about the real lessons, tools, and mindset shifts that can help any working mom, especially in tech or creative fields, grow a side hustle into something meaningful.

When I started my side hustle, I imagined calm mornings at my laptop, coffee in hand, ideas flowing, a few client calls here and there, and afternoons spent with my little one.
Spoiler: the reality was a lot messier — and somehow even better.

A year into running Studio VN – AI & Digital Solutions and building Ciao Mama Codes, I’ve learned that starting a business as a mom isn’t just about having a great idea. It’s about energy management, realistic planning, and finding joy in the little wins.

The Spark

For me, the spark came from wanting more freedom over my work. I had already spent years in corporate roles, but once I became a mom, I wanted to shape work around my life instead of the other way around.

I wanted to combine my love for tech, creativity, and storytelling into something that could grow with me — so Studio VN was born, followed by Ciao Mama Codes as my creative outlet and brand.

At first, it felt exciting — designing my own website, dreaming up service packages, and imagining the kinds of projects I’d take on. The possibilities felt endless.

The Reality Check

I’ll be honest — my first year looked nothing like the Instagram version of “working from home with kids.”

• I worked until 2 a.m. at least 2–3 times a week. I’d start after my son went to bed and keep going until my eyes closed without me noticing.
• Weekends were not weekends. If there was time, I was on my laptop.
• I juggled constantly — splitting myself between being present with my son and pushing my business forward.
• I did a lot of useless work. It felt reasonable at the time, but only later did I realize how much energy I wasted before I learned to do things better.
• I came up with bad ideas and got lost in my own brain. Until I eventually managed to solve the puzzle.

The turning point? Asking myself two simple but powerful questions:
Who am I, and what am I doing with it?

Here’s what I came up with:
I’m a mother. I have a passion for tech (and some knowledge 😊). I’ve studied and worked in business. I speak multiple languages. I live abroad with my international expat family. I have all kinds of skills — and I want to work.

So, I needed to build all that into something people could see and understand — a brand. Show it to people. Work with them. Eventually get paid.

Easy? Noooooo. Simple? In a way, yes.
Once I had it figured out, I became unstoppable. It still took months before I was noticeably present online, and it’s still a work in progress.

Lessons Learned

• Test ideas on a small scale before putting in big resources.
  Start small, use free tools, and see what works before you spend big.
• Network early, even before you launch.
  Relationships matter more than algorithms — connect with communities, join online groups, and talk about what you do.
• Balance family first.
  Some weeks will be heavy on work, others on family — and that’s okay. Progress isn’t always linear.
• Pick tools that save your sanity.
  Calendar integrations, social media schedulers, and automation tools help me do more in less time. Here are my top free and paid digital tools I rely on.
• Set realistic income goals.
  The first year is often about building a base, not replacing a full salary right away.

What I’d Do Differently

If I started again tomorrow, I’d:

• Niche down sooner — clarity makes marketing so much easier.
• Share my journey online earlier instead of waiting for “perfect.”
• Spend more time on direct outreach and less on comparing myself to others.

Encouragement for Other Moms

If you’re dreaming about starting something of your own, know this: it’s not always picture-perfect, but it is deeply rewarding.

Your business can grow slowly and still be a success. You can set your own pace. You can change direction as you learn more about what lights you up.

For more inspiration, I recommend reading Forbes’ guide to side hustle ideas for working moms.

The Bottom Line:
Starting a side hustle as a mom isn’t about squeezing work into every spare second — it’s about building something that truly fits you.

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• A behind-the-scenes look at balancing business, family, and life abroad.

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Be kind, be curious, and feel free to share where you’re reading from — I love meeting people across borders. 🌍

— Veronika