Upwork has worked for a few people I know, but by and large it seems the work there is low-quality, and the clientele is of the sort that wants to haggle over prices.

Ultimately — especially if your goal is to have more free time — clients like that are a bad idea.

Instead, look at Upwork as a stop-gap until you can land better clients. It takes a little bit more effort to get started, but the long-term benefit is better word-of-mouth, more control over your rates and time, and a generally improved quality of life.

I have about a decade of experience building referral-based sales and high-quality clientele, and I'd be happy to share my strategy with you if you'd like. Hit me up for a call if you're interested.

Also: good luck, and congratulations on putting family first!