From missed school events to midday pandings over pasta, this single mom found more than a side hustle in Web3; she found time, presence, and a whole new way to parent.
Some stories are best told not through metrics or milestones, but by the small, quiet freedoms they unlock.
For most parents, balancing work and home means making hard choices. Morning alarms at 4 a.m., packed lunches before school, commutes through traffic, and the guilt of missing out on your child’s first stage performance or school recognition day. It's a life of routines that leave little room for presence.
That was the reality for many Filipino moms during the pandemic. But in the middle of the chaos, some found something else: a side hustle that didn’t just earn income but gave them back their time. And for one mom, that story began with a game, her daughter, and an unexpected opportunity in Web3.
Julie Soriano, known as Mommy Julie to her online followers, is part of a new wave of digital earners who found a foothold in blockchain-based gaming. But her story isn't about yield or NFTs or financial strategy. It's about freedom.
From the Office to the Kitchen
Before discovering Web3, Julie worked a corporate job for over a decade. Her routine was typical for many working mothers, but no less exhausting.
"You wake up at 4 a.m. to take care of your child at school."
There were moments she couldn’t be there for her daughter, not because she didn’t want to, but because time and office rules said no.
"Sometimes you can't attend your child's special journeys at school because you're not allowed to leave."
Her entry into Web3 was unplanned. It was her daughter who introduced her to Axie Infinity during the height of the pandemic. The timing was urgent. Like many, she needed a new way to make ends meet.
What followed wasn’t just a new job, it was a reset. Julie didn’t just trade in her desk for a digital wallet. She found a way to be more present at home.
"Even if you're just waking up, you can do more house chores, and especially, you can cook."
Digital Bonding Over Pasta
The shift wasn’t just about staying home. It was about doing more of the things that mattered. One of those things was cooking.
"My child's favorite is pasta. We make pasta together. It’s one of our bonding moments."
She calls them bondings, those casual, ordinary days that now feel extraordinary. Days when being with her daughter doesn’t require asking for leave, or rushing to beat traffic. Days when tech doesn’t take over parenting, but actually strengthens it.
Games weren’t just about play or earnings either. They became a medium for connection.
"Once you're with them, you'll know what they like, especially games. The bonding created by games is different."
Teaching Tech from the Living Room
Julie’s relationship with Web3 didn’t stop at gaming. It evolved into learning and teaching. With AI and crypto becoming more visible in schools and media, her daughter started asking questions.
"Ma, what's AI? Ma, what's GPT?"
Instead of being left behind, Julie found herself explaining these concepts. Her home became a shared space of digital curiosity. And in doing so, she became a quiet example of what it looks like to raise a child who isn’t just using technology, but understanding it, with a parent by their side.
Setting Boundaries, Not Barriers
Of course, like any parent, Julie still has rules. Screen time isn’t endless. But she believes in guiding rather than restricting. In her view, the fear around video games and online tools often misses the point.
"You’re creating a bond with your children."
She advocates balance, screen time, and off-screen time, not as punishments or privileges, but as part of a rhythm families can learn together.
"If it's screen time, okay, we can do movies, we can do games. But if it's off-screen, you need to explain to your child why we need screen time, why we need off-screen."
This mindset has made her something of a bridge, not just between generations, but between two modes of thinking: one that fears the screen, and one that sees its possibilities.
No Age Limit to Curiosity
Julie doesn’t believe there’s a minimum age for understanding Web3. If a child shows interest, she says, it’s the parent’s role to meet them there and guide them through it.
She shares stories of kids as young as five playing Web3 games. And while the tools might be complex, the value lies in the shared experience, not in mastering the tech overnight.
"There's no age limit, as long as your child enjoys it, and you will really accompany your child in everything they do."
The Side Hustle That Gave Her More Than Income
For Julie, the most meaningful part of her journey isn’t just what she earns, it’s what she no longer has to miss.
She gets to show up for school events. She has time to prepare meals. She doesn’t have to choose between being a provider and being a parent.
Her story is a reminder that sometimes the most transformative technologies don’t just disrupt, they restore. Not everyone’s Web3 journey will look like hers. But in Julie’s case, it started with a daughter’s curiosity and led to a life with more room for bonding, cooking, and presence.
And yes, there’s always pasta.
