In a day and age where people can rent everything from other people’s houses, to friends, to brand name clothing, nothing should come as a surprise anymore. Nina Keneally decided to cash in on this rental trend. She started a business after coming to an important realization: many 20-somethings and 30-somethings in the Big Apple need a mother figure in their life. Her company is called Need A Mom, and she charges $40 per hour to any motherly activities, from offering advice, to ironing clothes. She even goes to doctor’s appointments with clients who ask, and makes chicken soup for sick clients who request it. The company’s motto? “When you need a mom… just not YOUR mom.”
Keneally emphasizes that this is not a maid service, and she doesn’t simply clean and do laundry. Having raised two children of her own, which she lists amongst her accomplishments on the website, she says she was inspired to start Need A Mom after meeting young people throughout her daily routine— from walking the dog, to partaking in yoga classes—who sought help and guidance. She is located in New York City, which she notes is a key aspect of the business’s success. Many younger people move to New York City without their family, so she steps in as that mother figure. In addition to the $40 per hour sessions she offers, Keneally also offers text sessions and letter exchanges. If having a venting session isn’t exciting enough, she has also had the distinction of accompanying a client to a colonoscopy procedure.