I'm gonna be honest with you, motherhood is no joke. But here's the thing? Working to hustle for money while juggling toddlers and their chaos.
This whole thing started for me about a few years back when I had the epiphany that my random shopping trips were reaching dangerous levels. I needed funds I didn't have to justify spending.
Being a VA
Okay so, my first gig was jumping into virtual assistance. And real talk? It was perfect. I could hustle while the kids slept, and literally all it took was my trusty MacBook and a prayer.
My first tasks were simple tasks like handling emails, scheduling social media posts, and basic admin work. Nothing fancy. I charged about fifteen dollars an hour, which seemed low but as a total beginner, you gotta prove yourself first.
The funniest part? There I was on a video meeting looking all professional from the chest up—business casual vibes—while wearing pants I'd owned since 2015. That's the dream honestly.
My Etsy Journey
Once I got comfortable, I thought I'd test out the selling on Etsy. Every mom I knew seemed to have an Etsy shop, so I was like "why not join the party?"
I created designing downloadable organizers and digital art prints. What's great about digital products? Make it one time, and it can make money while you sleep. For real, I've made sales at midnight when I'm unconscious.
When I got my first order? I literally screamed. He came running thinking the house was on fire. Negative—it was just me, doing a happy dance for my five dollar sale. Judge me if you want.
Blogging and Creating
Eventually I discovered the whole influencer thing. This one is playing the long game, real talk.
I began a parenting blog where I wrote about what motherhood actually looks like—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Keeping it real. Just authentic experiences about surviving tantrums in Target.
Growing an audience was like watching paint dry. At the beginning, I was essentially my only readers were my mom and two bots. But I didn't give up, and over time, things started clicking.
Currently? I make money through affiliate links, working with brands, and ad revenue. This past month I earned over two thousand dollars from my website. Wild, right?
The Social Media Management Game
Once I got decent at managing my blog's social media, other businesses started asking if I could do the same for them.
Real talk? A lot of local businesses suck at social media. They know they have to be on it, but they're too busy.
This is my moment. I oversee social media for several small companies—different types of businesses. I plan their content, schedule posts, interact with their audience, and monitor performance.
They pay me between $500-$1500/month per client, depending on the complexity. The best thing? I handle this from my iPhone.
Freelance Writing Life
For those who can string sentences together, freelancing is seriously profitable. I don't mean writing the next Great American Novel—this is blog posts, articles, website copy, product descriptions.
Brands and websites constantly need fresh content. I've written everything from dental hygiene to copyright. You just need to research, you just need to know how to find information.
Generally earn between fifty and two hundred per article, depending on the topic and length. On good months I'll crank out ten to fifteen pieces and pull in one to two thousand extra.
Plot twist: I'm the same person who thought writing was torture. And now I'm making money from copyright. Life is weird.
Tutoring Online
During the pandemic, everyone needed online help. As a former educator, so this was perfect for me.
I started working with VIPKid and Tutor.com. It's super flexible, which is essential when you have children who keep you guessing.
My sessions are usually elementary school stuff. Rates vary from $15-25 per hour depending on the company.
Here's what's weird? There are times when my kids will crash my tutoring session mid-session. I've had to educate someone's child while mine had a meltdown. My clients are totally cool about it because they get it.
The Reselling Game
Alright, this hustle wasn't planned. I was decluttering my kids' things and listed some clothes on Facebook Marketplace.
They sold instantly. I had an epiphany: people will buy anything.
Now I hit up secondhand stores and sales, searching for name brands. I'll buy something for $3 and sell it for $30.
It's labor-intensive? For sure. You're constantly listing and shipping. But there's something satisfying about finding hidden treasures at Goodwill and making money.
Additionally: my children are fascinated when I find unique items. Last week I found a retro toy that my son freaked out about. Sold it for $45. Victory for mom.
Real Talk Time
Here's the thing nobody tells you: side hustles aren't passive income. There's work involved, hence the name.
There are moments when I'm exhausted, wondering why I'm doing this. I'm grinding at dawn getting stuff done while it's quiet, then handling mom duties, then more hustle time after everyone's in bed.
But here's the thing? I earned this money. I can spend it guilt-free to treat myself. I'm helping with my family's finances. I'm teaching my children that you can have it all—sort of.
Tips if You're Starting Out
If you want to start a hustle of your own, here's what I'd tell you:
Start small. Don't attempt to do everything at once. Start with one venture and nail it down before starting something else.
Be realistic about time. Whatever time you have, that's perfectly acceptable. Whatever time you can dedicate is valuable.
Stop comparing to the highlight reels. That mom with the six-figure side hustle? They put in years of work and has support. Do your thing.
Invest in yourself, but strategically. You don't need expensive courses. Avoid dropping $5,000 on a coaching program until you've validated your idea.
Batch your work. This is crucial. Block off specific days for specific tasks. Monday might be writing day. Make Wednesday handling business stuff.
Let's Talk Mom Guilt
Real talk—mom guilt is a thing. There are times when I'm hustling and my child is calling for me, and I struggle with it.
However I remind myself that I'm demonstrating to them work ethic. I'm teaching my kids that women can be mothers and entrepreneurs.
Also? Having my own income has helped me feel more like myself. I'm more satisfied, which helps me be better.
The Numbers
How much do I earn? Typically, from all my side gigs, I make $3K-5K. Some months are better, some are slower.
Will this make you wealthy? Not really. But it's paid for family trips and unexpected expenses that would've been impossible otherwise. Plus it's developing my career and skills that could evolve into something huge.
Wrapping This Up
Look, hustling as a mom is challenging. There's no perfect balance. Many days I'm flying by the seat of my pants, powered by caffeine, and hoping for the best.
But I'm glad I'm doing this. Every dollar earned is evidence of my capability. It shows that I'm not just someone's mother.
For anyone contemplating launching a mom business? Take the leap. Start messy. Future you will be so glad you did.
Don't forget: You're not just enduring—you're building something. Even though you probably have snack crumbs stuck to your laptop.
Not even kidding. This is the life, complete with all the chaos.
From Survival Mode to Content Creator: My Journey as a Single Mom
Real talk—single motherhood wasn't on my vision board. I also didn't plan on building a creator business. But here we are, three years into this wild journey, paying bills by being vulnerable on the internet while parenting alone. And honestly? It's been the best worst decision of my life.
The Starting Point: When Everything Came Crashing Down
It was a few years ago when my life exploded. I will never forget sitting in my bare apartment (he took the couch, I got the kids' art projects), staring at my phone at 2am while my kids were finally quiet. I had barely $850 in my checking account, two humans depending on me, and a paycheck that wasn't enough. The anxiety was crushing, y'all.
I'd been mindlessly scrolling to distract myself from the anxiety—because that's what we do? when we're drowning, right?—when I came across this divorced mom talking about how she made six figures through content creation. I remember thinking, "That's either a scam or she's incredibly lucky."
But when you're desperate, you try anything. Or crazy. Sometimes both.
I downloaded the TikTok studio app the next morning. My first video? Raw, unfiltered, messy hair, sharing how I'd just used my last twelve bucks on a cheap food for my kids' lunch boxes. I posted it and immediately regretted it. Who wants to watch my broke reality?
Turns out, way more people than I expected.
That video got nearly 50,000 views. Forty-seven thousand people watched me nearly cry over frozen nuggets. The comments section was this unexpected source of support—fellow solo parents, other people struggling, all saying "this is my life." That was my turning point. People didn't want filtered content. They wanted real.
Finding My Niche: The Honest Single Parent Platform
The truth is about content creation: your niche matters. And my niche? It chose me. I became the real one.
I started sharing the stuff no one shows. Like how I wore the same leggings all week because I couldn't handle laundry. Or the time I served cereal as a meal several days straight and called it "cereal week." Or that moment when my daughter asked about the divorce, and I had to explain adult stuff to a kid who believes in magic.
My content wasn't polished. My lighting was awful. I filmed on a ancient iPhone. But it was real, and evidently, that's what connected.
After sixty days, I hit 10K. Three months later, 50K. By month six, I'd crossed six figures. Each milestone felt surreal. Actual humans who wanted to follow me. Me—a financially unstable single mom who had to learn everything from scratch not long ago.
The Actual Schedule: Managing It All
Here's what it actually looks like of my typical day, because creating content solo is not at all like those curated "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm goes off. I do not want to move, but this is my precious quiet time. I make coffee that I'll reheat three times, and I start filming. Sometimes it's a getting ready video sharing about budgeting. Sometimes it's me cooking while venting about dealing with my ex. The lighting is whatever I can get.
7:00am: Kids wake up. Content creation goes on hold. Now I'm in parent mode—pouring cereal, locating lost items (where do they go), packing lunches, referee duties. The chaos is intense.
8:30am: School drop-off. I'm that mom creating content in traffic when stopped. Don't judge me, but content waits for no one.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my work block. House is quiet. I'm cutting clips, replying to DMs, planning content, pitching brands, analyzing metrics. People think content creation is just posting videos. Wrong. It's a whole business.
I usually batch content on certain days. That means shooting multiple videos in a few hours. I'll change clothes so it appears to be different times. Life hack: Keep different outfits accessible for quick changes. My neighbors must think I'm insane, talking to my camera in the driveway.
3:00pm: Pickup time. Back to parenting. But this is where it's complicated—often my top performing content come from real life. Recently, my daughter had a full tantrum in Target because I refused to get a expensive toy. I made content in the Target parking lot later about managing big emotions as a single mom. It got over 2 million views.
Evening: Dinner through bedtime. I'm completely exhausted to create anything, but I'll plan posts, reply to messages, or outline content. Often, after the kids are asleep, I'll stay up editing because a deadline is coming.
The truth? There's no balance. It's just managed chaos with some victories.
The Money Talk: How I Support My Family
Okay, let's get into the finances because this is what people ask about. Can you really earn income as a creator? For sure. Is it effortless? Absolutely not.
My first month, I made nothing. Second month? $0. Third month, I got my first sponsored post—$150 to promote a meal kit service. I literally cried. That one-fifty covered food.
Fast forward, three years later, here's how I monetize:
Sponsored Content: This is my largest income stream. I work with brands that align with my audience—budget-friendly products, mom products, kid essentials. I get paid anywhere from $500 to $5,000 per deal, depending on what's required. Last month, I did 4 sponsored posts and made eight grand.
Platform Payments: The TikTok fund pays basically nothing—maybe $200-400 per month for huge view counts. YouTube money is more lucrative. I make about $1,500/month from YouTube, but that was a long process.
Affiliate Marketing: I promote products to products I actually use—ranging from my go-to coffee machine to the bunk beds I bought. If they buy using my link, I get a cut. This brings in about $800-1,200 monthly.
Digital Products: I created a money management guide and a food prep planner. $15 apiece, and I sell fifty to a hundred per month. That's another over a thousand dollars.
Coaching/Consulting: People wanting to start pay me to guide them. I offer consulting calls for two hundred dollars. I do about 5-10 each month.
My total income: On average, I'm making ten to fifteen thousand per month these days. Certain months are better, some are lower. It's unpredictable, which is scary when you're solo. But it's triple what I made at my corporate job, and I'm present.
The Dark Side Nobody Posts About
It looks perfect online until you're losing it because a post got no views, or managing cruel messages from random people.
The hate comments are real. I've been accused of being a bad mother, told I'm using my children, accused of lying about being a divorced parent. I'll never forget, "Maybe your husband left because you're an in-depth guide annoying." That one stung for days.
The platform changes. Certain periods you're getting millions of views. The next, you're struggling for views. Your income is unstable. You're constantly creating, always "on", nervous about slowing down, you'll lose relevance.
The mom guilt is worse beyond normal. Everything I share, I wonder: Am I oversharing? Am I protecting my kids' privacy? Will they regret this when they're older? I have clear boundaries—minimal identifying info, nothing too personal, protecting their dignity. But the line is blurry sometimes.
The burnout is real. Certain periods when I have nothing. When I'm touched out, over it, and at my limit. But life doesn't stop. So I do it anyway.
The Unexpected Blessings
But here's what's real—through it all, this journey has blessed me with things I never anticipated.
Money security for the first time in my life. I'm not rich, but I paid off $18,000 in debt. I have an safety net. We took a vacation last summer—Disney World, which I never thought possible two years ago. I don't panic about money anymore.
Time freedom that's priceless. When my son got sick last month, I didn't have to call in to work or stress about losing pay. I worked from the doctor's office. When there's a class party, I'm present. I'm there for them in ways I wasn't with a traditional 9-5.
My people that saved me. The other influencers I've connected with, especially other moms, have become true friends. We vent, exchange tips, support each other. My followers have become this family. They cheer for me, encourage me through rough patches, and validate me.
Something that's mine. Since becoming a mom, I have an identity. I'm more than an ex or someone's mom. I'm a business owner. A creator. Someone who made it happen.
Tips for Single Moms Wanting to Start
If you're a single parent curious about this, listen up:
Just start. Your first videos will be terrible. Mine did. That's okay. You improve over time, not by procrastinating.
Keep it real. People can sense inauthenticity. Share your actual life—the mess. That's the magic.
Protect your kids. Establish boundaries. Decide what you will and won't share. Their privacy is everything. I never share their names, minimize face content, and respect their dignity.
Build multiple income streams. Don't rely on just one platform or one income stream. The algorithm is unstable. Diversification = security.
Film multiple videos. When you have free time, record several. Future you will thank present you when you're too exhausted to create.
Connect with followers. Respond to comments. Reply to messages. Be real with them. Your community is crucial.
Track your time and ROI. Time is money. If something takes forever and flops while something else takes very little time and blows up, change tactics.
Don't forget yourself. You need to fill your cup. Unplug. Set boundaries. Your sanity matters more than going viral.
This takes time. This requires patience. It took me eight months to make meaningful money. Year one, I made fifteen thousand. Year 2, eighty thousand. Year three, I'm hitting six figures. It's a marathon.
Know your why. On hard days—and trust me, there will be—think about your why. For me, it's financial freedom, being there, and showing myself that I'm more than I believed.
The Honest Truth
Here's the deal, I'm being honest. This life is challenging. Really hard. You're operating a business while being the single caregiver of demanding little people.
Certain days I question everything. Days when the hate comments sting. Days when I'm burnt out and asking myself if I should go back to corporate with a 401k.
But then my daughter mentions she loves that I'm home. Or I see financial progress. Or I get a DM from a follower saying my content helped her leave an unhealthy relationship. And I remember my purpose.
My Future Plans
A few years back, I was scared and struggling how to survive. Today, I'm a professional creator making triple what I earned in corporate America, and I'm home when my kids get off the school bus.
My goals moving forward? Get to half a million followers by this year. Launch a podcast for solo parents. Write a book eventually. Expand this business that changed my life.
Being a creator gave me a lifeline when I was drowning. It gave me a way to support my kids, be there, and create something meaningful. It's not the path I expected, but it's where I belong.
To every solo parent considering this: You can. It will be hard. You'll consider quitting. But you're already doing the most difficult thing—raising humans alone. You're tougher than you realize.
Start imperfect. Stay the course. Prioritize yourself. And know this, you're not just surviving—you're creating something amazing.
BRB, I need to go record a video about why my kid's school project is due tomorrow and nobody told me until now. Because that's the content creator single mom life—making content from chaos, one TikTok at a time.
For real. This path? It's the best decision. Despite there's probably old snacks in my keyboard. No regrets, imperfectly perfect.