I wanted a part-time job while homeschooling my 3 kids. Then my cake pop side hustle took off.

Jessica Redford homeschools her three kids and runs her business. Courtesy of Jessica Redford

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jessica Redford. It has been edited for length and clarity.

Last September, a shopping center opened down the street from me. It had a grocery store with a bakery , and at first, I thought it might be the perfect opportunity for me to get a part-time job.

I'd been homeschooling my three kids , who are now 14, 11, and 8, for years. As they got older and needed me a little less, I started feeling like I wanted something for myself, an outlet for my creativity. A part-time job seemed like the perfect way to have that.

Before having kids, I'd taken cake-making classes and learned the basics, so working in a bakery just minutes from home felt ideal.

But then I started thinking about how much I value the freedom we have as a family.…