These Content Creators Share How Motherhood Changed Them

We asked content creator moms how motherhood shaped who they are today.

Published on Jul 21, 2025

Being a content creator and a mother often feels like being pulled in opposite directions. Creating asks for focus and stillness, while motherhood keeps her moving. Quiet hours are rare when a child’s world is full of constant motion, like when they call out just as an idea begins to form. But over time, she learns to work within these moments.

For content creator moms, balancing both roles creates something deeper. Those interruptions reshape how they create, teaching flexibility and pushing them to work even in short, imperfect moments. These changes don’t just keep their creativity alive; they transform it, even bringing an honesty and connection that wasn’t there before.

We spoke with four moms from three generations, each navigating content creation in her own way. Their stories demonstrate that raising kids and creating content don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Instead, they can build on each other.

Also read: How Motherhood Made These Moms Better Individuals

Moms Behind the Content

Mona Magno-Veluz, mom of three

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Instagram/ @mightymagulang.

Mona Magno-Veluz, known online as “Mighty Magulang,” creates short videos on TikTok and YouTube that delve into genealogy and Philippine history. Her mission is straightforward: to make these complex topics clear, direct, and accessible to anyone who watches.

Genealogy, the study of family history, is meticulous work. It means tracing lineages, poring over records, and piecing together the story of where people come from. It demands long hours of research and careful analysis, a kind of quiet diligence that doesn’t often find its way into viral content. Yet Mona has made it resonate.

Her online name carries a personal weight. “Mighty Magulang” began with her experience as a parent. When her first child, Carl, was diagnosed with autism, she and her husband made a deliberate choice about how they would respond.

“Between me and my husband, feeling namin... ‘Ay okay, hindi tayo magpapaka-victim to our situation. We’re going to be empowered, we’re going to study, we’re going to know what we need to do to make sure our child is okay’,” she shared in a past interview.

That decision shaped her path. Mona didn’t just take it in stride; she took it as a mission. For over twenty years, she has served as the national spokesperson of the Autism Society Philippines, helping to build inclusive livelihood projects for individuals on the spectrum.

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Instagram/ @mightymagulang.

Creating and Mothering

Mona began sharing her work online during the pandemic. She started making TikTok videos as part of the wave of content that emerged while people stayed at home. What started as an experiment soon grew into something bigger.

“My content creation began as a pandemic project. I chose TikTok because I wanted to explore how it worked, initially to benefit the Autism Society Philippines,” she explained.

“As a professional genealogist, I have researched Philippine history and family stories for decades. Sharing them became both an outlet and a way to educate. I want to make history relatable and encourage pride in our roots while promoting civic responsibility and digital literacy.”

On TikTok, her account has grown to nearly 660,000 followers. One of her videos has reached over 12 million views. But for Mona, the numbers are only part of the picture. The deeper change is personal.

“Motherhood, especially to a child with autism, was learning new things about myself. My younger self was impatient and, honestly, ‘mayabang’. I changed because I have had to learn to respect my child’s unique pace and personality,” she told Smart Parenting.

“I became more observant, decoding non-verbal cues and understanding distress without words. I also became more patient. My son processes the world differently, so I learned to slow down and give him space. His journey made me a better listener and human being. He made me a better mom for my other children who came after him.”

For Mona, creating and motherhood go hand in hand. Each gives meaning to the other and roots her work in love and purpose.

Yua Kini, mom of two

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Photo courtesy of Yua Kini.

Yua Kini began creating content at the peak of the pandemic in 2020. At the time, it was part of her job. She founded the TikTok account of one of the country's largest e-commerce platforms, producing videos for the brand to reach new audiences. Eventually, she found herself enjoying the process and began creating entertainment trends on her account as well.

However, Yua’s platform truly began to grow when she started sharing her motherhood journey in 2023. “I genuinely didn’t have any goals. I did it because I enjoyed it,” she said.

Becoming a mom shifted what she wanted to share. “I started creating motherhood content too because I learned from myself (and my husband) and then realized there are a lot of first-time moms (like me) who are clueless and need simplified content to consume about motherhood that’s authentic and raw.”

She may have started without goals, but over time, her purpose became clear. “My goal now is actually to empower moms that it’s okay to find time for yourself, with your husband alone, and it is possible to balance being a career-driven woman and a devoted mother. This is often being judged, but I believe that having your own identity besides being a mother helps you in becoming a better mother and wife.”

Motherhood Is a Rebirth

Motherhood has profoundly changed Yua, both personally and creatively. “Motherhood feels like rebirth,” she said. “I feel like I’m a totally different human being in the same body!” Before having kids, her world revolved around work, and burnout was a constant presence. “I was just striving for my job because it pays the bills, honestly, little sense of fulfillment.”

Things feel different now, and for the better. “Unlike now, everything is balanced. I focus on my growth, my time with my kids, and my relationship with my husband while flourishing in my career creatively. [It] feels like everything unraveled eventually.”

For Yua, daily balance comes down to having a routine. “Finding a set routine really helped my kids and myself. That routine includes my time for my kids, time as a family, and while my kids sleep or play, I work in between while my angels watch them,” she explained.

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Photo courtesy of Yua Kini.

“But it’s not perfect, there are times that I don’t get to work at all, so I make up for it by working at night or during weekends. It’s not the most ideal situation but I don’t know… work gives me a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, work is ‘me time’ for me.”

Support keeps her grounded and motivated. “The unwavering support of my husband and the strangers DM-ing me keeps me motivated and grounded,” she shared. Creating content has also become a way to keep her “core memories” in a digital diary.

“I honestly didn’t realize that what I started creating for fun and for my ‘core memories’ or digital diary inspires and helps other moms too. It also reminds me that as much as social media is glamorized, it’s better to be real and unfiltered too.”

Yua acknowledged that being visible online while raising children comes with its own challenges. “I guess you get a lot of unsolicited opinions,” she said. Still, she and her husband stay firm in their choices. “At the end of the day, it’s my and my husband’s life and my children, and we always think what’s best for them.”

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Photo courtesy of Yua Kini.

Yua believes mothers can build careers or creative paths while raising children, even in a culture that still glorifies self-sacrifice. “Having a job while being a stay-at-home mom is self-sacrifice and at the same time empowering. Mothers are actually rockstars for being able to find time for themselves (whatever that may be) while nurturing, loving, and being there for children,” she said.

“You’re not a bad mom if work makes you happy. At the end of the day, a happy and stable mother is the best mother for your children.”

Cassie and Ricci, moms of one

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Cassie Fajilan (left) and Ricci Yumang (right) | Photo courtesy of Cassie Fajilan.

Cassie Fajilan and Ricci Yumang have been close friends and creative partners since their college years in Vancouver. As friends, they’ve been by each other’s sides through every season—from building their YouTube channel ToThe9s, to getting married, and now entering motherhood together.

The name ToThe9s came from a simple, passing compliment that stuck with Cassie. “The name ‘ToThe9s’ was inspired by the classic phrase ‘dressed to the nines,’ which means showing up and dressing your best,” she recalled.

“I think I first heard that phrase coined during my grad picture day when my photographer turned to me and said, ‘Wow, you’re dressed to the nines.’ A year later, when we were brainstorming names, ‘tothe9s’ came up, and it just felt right. I instantly visualized the logo, and the whole thing came together effortlessly from there,” she told Smart Parenting.

They both knew early on that they wanted to start a YouTube channel, but they waited until after high school to avoid judgment. Ricci explained, “It was not common to pursue social media and content creation 10 years ago and we felt that starting it during college would not draw as much attention or judgement from our high school peers.”

Cassie was always drawn to editing and media arts, while Ricci’s passion was fashion, making a fashion and lifestyle channel the obvious choice.

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Photo courtesy of Cassie Fajilan.

Their first attempt was a makeup routine video. However, after filming, they realized they needed to lead with fashion. In 2013, they posted their first real video—a “Back to School Haul & Fall Lookbook.” At the time, they had no expectations, but the video quickly gained popularity, reaching over 500,000 views. Cassie said, “I think that our subscribers really connected with our laid-back, minimal style and appreciated the love and effort that I put into the editing, which motivated us to start creating more.”

When they began, content creation was purely a fun, creative outlet. “Back in 2013, social media definitely wasn’t what it is today. We didn’t even realize the kind of potential it had. At the time, we were simply sharing our love for fashion and creating content that felt natural and exciting.” But as their channel grew, so did their dreams.

They imagined travelling with brands, reaching half a million subscribers, and meeting their viewers in person. In 2017, as proud Filipinas, they brought that vision to life by holding a huge meet and greet at SM Megamall in Manila, where they connected with their local community. Turning content creation into a full-time career once felt like a far-off dream, but they’re grateful they reached it.

“The social media realm has changed so much since we started back in 2013,” they shared. “We would love to say that we still have those big goals and aspirations however, seasons change and so have we. We still love creating content and having a social media presence, but it has since slowed down from when we were in our early 20s. We cherish those memories together—travelling the world and creating long form content—but we’ve also learned to love growth and the life we now have especially transitioning into motherhood.”

Motherhood has reshaped them in different ways. For Ricci, watching her daughter, Isla, grow has been the most incredible journey. “From a tiny newborn to a curious, bright-eyed 11-month-old—it’s amazing how much things can change in such a short amount of time. Every little milestone feels like magic. After the long days, the sleepless nights, and all the effort that goes into caring for this tiny human, nothing compares to the reward of seeing her smile. It’s a kind of joy that’s hard to put into words, pure humbling, and so rewarding.”

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Photo courtesy of Cassie Fajilan.

Balancing content creation and motherhood looks different for them now. Ricci said, “Staying creative definitely has its challenges especially with a curious little toddler that is so eager to walk and explore. These days, my schedule really revolves around Isla, and I’ve learned to prioritize her needs first and work around her clock. I’m so thankful to have a supportive husband who steps in and takes care of her so I can sneak away to a café and get some work done. My content has definitely evolved since becoming a mom, but I honestly love sharing Isla’s growth and little moments online, alongside my fashion content.”

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Instagram/ @cassiefajilan.

Cassie recently gave birth to her first child, Solène Alexandra, and has felt the weight and wonder of the journey deeply. “Growing a baby takes a huge toll on your mind and body. I feel like I completely dissociated for 7 months because I had crazy nausea and horrible symptoms,” she shared. Thankfully, her third trimester became more manageable—giving her bursts of creativity and motivation, especially for content documenting her journey to motherhood.

Cassie also loved styling her bump, calling it the cutest little accessory. She even created an IG Reels series called “Bump My Style.” She admitted she thought her bump would be bigger, so styling it had been easy. Her tip to other moms-to-be is to invest in gartered pants, skirts, and shorts instead of typical maternity wear—pieces she plans to keep wearing postpartum.

Ricci, meanwhile, now prioritizes comfort, saying, “These days, I’m all about comfort and I like hoodies, wide-leg pants, or elevated pajamas. With how busy life is, constantly being on the go, and caring for Isla, I gravitate toward loose, breathable pieces that let me move freely but still feel put-together. My dad’s button-ups have definitely been a staple for me.”

Cassie and Ricci continue to create content while raising their children. They share their daily lives, style, and motherhood experiences with the same honesty that built their community over the years.

Click here to find out how motherhood made the moms of the Smart Parenting Village stronger and better.

Hanna is a News Desk Writer at Smart Parenting, covering parenting, health, culture, and more. Off the clock, she’s likely people-watching at a café or park, matcha latte in hand.