Navigating Motherhood in a Gig Economy: The Role of the “Gig Mom”

When my kids started school, the playground drop-offs and pick-ups felt like a world of unspoken expectations and assumptions. Moms gathered in small groups, chatting about their days, trading stories about life’s juggling act. The question always came up: “What do you do?” At first, I tried to keep my answer simple—“I work from home”—but that just opened the door to more questions. “So, are you a stay-at-home mom, or do you have a job?” they’d ask, genuinely curious. And that’s when I’d stumble, unsure how to explain my role as a gig mom.

Over the years, my role as a mother has evolved. I’ve been a working mom, a stay-at-home mom, a part-time mom, a caregiver to my parents, and now a "gig mom" fully immersed in every detail of my children’s lives while running a successfull freelancing business. And now, as a gig mom, I occupy a new and strange in-between space. I’m home, but I’m not always available. I’m flexible, but only if I want to risk falling behind on work. I feel present, yet stretched thin—always caught between two idealized worlds.

In many ways, the gig economy has been a gift. It’s given me the freedom to structure my work around my family’s needs. I can answer when the school calls, volunteer for field trips, and be there when it counts. But that flexibility has a cost. My workday often starts before the kids wake up and stretches late into the night. And when other moms talk about their lives—the SAHMs trading recipes or the working moms discussing career milestones—I feel like I’m translating a language that doesn’t fully apply to me.

The Work Identity Spectrum: Stay-at-Home, Working, and Gig Moms

Understanding where gig moms fit requires examining the broader spectrum of motherhood work identities. Let’s take a closer look.

The Work Identity Spectrum: Stay-at-Home, Working, and Gig Moms

“What do you do?” can feel like a loaded question at times. Answering with one of the above labels, well, they carry a ton of weight because they directly relate to societal expectations around a mother’s role in balancing work and family. They’re shorthand for explaining how a mom spends her time, her priorities, and why she may or may not be able to meet the near-impossible standards society imposes on mothers.

Stay-at-Home Mom (SAHM):

When a mom identifies as a SAHM, she’s signaling her decision to focus solely on caregiving and household management. This is her “job,” even though society often undervalues it. SAHMs face immense pressure to excel at everything from making elaborate lunches to being present at every school event.

Working Mom (WM):

A working mom, on the other hand, balances a paid job outside the home with her responsibilities as a parent. She’s often judged for not being available enough for her children, even though her income might be crucial to the family’s well-being. Society tends to praise her for her “career ambition” while quietly judging her for missing bake sales or after-school pickups.

Gig Mom:

The gig mom exists somewhere in between. She’s not entirely “at home,” nor is she fully immersed in a traditional work environment. She may freelance, run a business, or work contract jobs. Gig moms are flexible, but that flexibility often comes with invisible sacrifices.

• To the outside world, gig moms appear to have it all: They’re present at school functions, yet they’re still earning an income. But behind the scenes, gig moms often struggle to keep up with the relentless demands of both worlds.
• Unlike SAHMs, gig moms are not “off” after school drop-off. Unlike some WMs, they don’t leave their work at the office. Their laptops follow them to the kitchen table, and their email dings during bedtime routines.
• The gig mom must justify her work differently. When someone asks, “What do you do?” she may hesitate before explaining, “I freelance,” or “I run my own business,” knowing she may encounter skepticism or a lack of understanding about the legitimacy of her work.

Why Gig Moms Face Unique Challenges

Blurring Boundaries: A gig mom’s home is her office, which makes it harder to separate work from family. Her flexibility can be a double-edged sword, allowing her to adapt to family needs but often leading to burnout as work seeps into every corner of her day. While others complain about back-to-the-office policies, these moms may long for the clearcut boundary that a dedicated officespace might provide.

Judgment from Both Sides:

• SAHMs might assume she’s not “fully present” for her children.
• WMs might view her work as a hobby, not a career.
• Meanwhile, she constantly feels the need to prove herself—to her clients, her family, and society at large.

Unrealistic Expectations: Gig moms are expected to embody the best of both worlds. They should be as present as SAHMs and as professionally successful as WMs. And when they inevitably fall short, the guilt is overwhelming.

Where Gig Moms Fit on the Spectrum

The gig mom disrupts the binary of stay-at-home vs. working mom. She defies traditional expectations, yet the lack of clear societal understanding of her role leaves her feeling isolated. In some ways, she’s forced to perform both roles simultaneously—without the societal infrastructure, workplace protections, family or sick leave, or validation afforded to either.

But there’s also power in the gig mom’s position. Her flexibility allows her to reject the rigid molds society has placed on mothers for decades. She can redefine what success and fulfillment look like, both as a professional and a parent.

A Call for Change

It’s time to expand the conversation about motherhood and work beyond outdated binaries. SAHMs, WMs, and gig moms all navigate a society that demands too much and offers too little support. We need to recognize the legitimacy of every mom’s role—whether she’s running a household, climbing the corporate ladder, or building her own business at the kitchen table.

Let’s stop asking, “What do you do?” as if the answer defines a mother’s or a woman's or better yet a person's worth. Instead, let’s create a culture where moms—regardless of their roles—feel seen, valued, and supported.

So, to my fellow gig moms: How do you navigate this in-between space? What challenges do you face, and how do you create balance in a world that demands it all? Let’s start a conversation.

#GigMomLife #MotherhoodRedefined #WorkLifeIntegration #FreelanceParenting