I'm gonna be honest with you, being a mom is not for the weak. But here's the thing? Trying to hustle for money while handling children who have boundless energy while I'm running on fumes.
This whole thing started for me about several years ago when I realized that my retail therapy sessions were reaching dangerous levels. I was desperate for my own money.
The Virtual Assistant Life
Right so, my initial venture was becoming a virtual assistant. And not gonna lie? It was ideal. I was able to hustle while the kids slept, and literally all it took was my laptop and decent wifi.
My first tasks were easy things like organizing inboxes, scheduling social media posts, and data entry. Nothing fancy. I started at about fifteen dollars an hour, which felt cheap but when you don't know what you're doing yet, you gotta begin at the bottom.
What cracked me up? I would be on a Zoom call looking completely put together from the shoulders up—business casual vibes—while wearing my rattiest leggings. That's the dream honestly.
My Etsy Journey
After getting my feet wet, I decided to try the Etsy world. Everyone and their mother seemed to sell stuff on Etsy, so I thought "why not start one too?"
My shop focused on making digital planners and digital art prints. What's great about digital products? Design it once, and it can make money while you sleep. For real, I've made sales at midnight when I'm unconscious.
That initial sale? I freaked out completely. He came running thinking the house was on fire. Negative—it was just me, cheering about my glorious $4.99. No shame in my game.
The Content Creation Grind
After that I ventured into the whole influencer thing. This hustle is playing the long game, let me tell you.
I started a blog about motherhood where I wrote about my parenting journey—the messy truth. None of that Pinterest-perfect life. Simply honest stories about surviving tantrums in Target.
Building traffic was like watching paint dry. For months, I was basically writing for myself and like three people. But I stayed consistent, and after a while, things started clicking.
Now? I make money through affiliate marketing, brand partnerships, and display ads. Recently I brought in over two thousand dollars from my website. Crazy, right?
The Social Media Management Game
As I mastered social media for my own stuff, local businesses started reaching out if I could run their social media.
Here's the thing? Many companies don't understand social media. They understand they have to be on it, but they're too busy.
I swoop in. I now manage social media for a handful of clients—a bakery, a boutique, and a fitness studio. I create content, schedule posts, handle community management, and check their stats.
They pay me between $500-1500 per month per account, depending on the complexity. The best thing? I do this work from my phone.
Freelance Writing Life
If you can write, writing gigs is incredibly lucrative. This isn't becoming Shakespeare—I mean blog posts, articles, website copy, product descriptions.
Businesses everywhere constantly need fresh content. I've written articles about everything from subjects I knew nothing about before Googling. Being an expert isn't required, you just need to know how to Google effectively.
Generally bill between fifty and two hundred per article, depending on what's involved. Certain months I'll create a dozen articles and bring in $1-2K.
Here's what's wild: I was that student who thought writing was torture. Now I'm a professional writer. Life is weird.
Tutoring Online
After lockdown started, tutoring went digital. I was a teacher before kids, so this was an obvious choice.
I joined a couple of online tutoring sites. The scheduling is flexible, which is non-negotiable when you have kids with unpredictable schedules.
My sessions are usually elementary reading and math. You can make from $15-$25/hour depending on which site you use.
Here's what's weird? Occasionally my kids will crash my tutoring session mid-session. I've literally had to maintain composure during complete chaos in the background. My clients are usually super understanding because they're parents too.
Reselling and Flipping
Okay, this side gig happened accidentally. I was decluttering my kids' things and posted some items on various apps.
Stuff sold out immediately. That's when I realized: you can sell literally anything.
These days I hit up thrift stores, garage sales, and clearance sections, looking for quality items. I grab something for $3 and sell it for $30.
It's labor-intensive? Absolutely. I'm photographing items, writing descriptions, shipping packages. But it's oddly satisfying about discovering a diamond in the rough at a yard sale and earning from it.
Also: my children are fascinated when I discover weird treasures. Recently I scored a vintage toy that my son lost his mind over. Made $45 on it. Victory for mom.
The Honest Reality
Real talk moment: side hustles take work. It's called hustling because you're hustling.
Some days when I'm exhausted, asking myself what I'm doing. I'm grinding at dawn getting stuff done while it's quiet, then doing all the mom stuff, then more hustle time after everyone's in bed.
But here's the thing? That money is MINE. I can spend it guilt-free to buy the fancy coffee. I'm helping with the family budget. My kids see that women can hustle.
What I Wish I Knew
If you're considering a side gig, here's my advice:
Start with one thing. Avoid trying to do everything at once. Pick one thing and master it before taking on more.
Work with your schedule. Your available hours, that's okay. A couple of productive hours is better than nothing.
Avoid comparing yourself to what you see online. Those people with massive success? She probably started years ago and doesn't do it alone. Focus on your own journey.
Invest in yourself, but strategically. You don't need expensive courses. Don't spend huge money on programs until you've validated your idea.
Do similar tasks together. This is crucial. Dedicate certain times for certain work. Use Monday for content creation day. Wednesday might be handling business stuff.
The Mom Guilt is Real
Let me be honest—mom guilt is a thing. Certain moments when I'm on my laptop and they want to play, and I feel terrible.
Yet I remember that I'm teaching them what dedication looks like. I'm proving to them that women can be mothers and entrepreneurs.
Also? Having my own income has made me a better mom. I'm more fulfilled, which makes me more patient.
Income Reality Check
The real numbers? Typically, from all my side gigs, I earn between three and five grand. Some months are lower, some are slower.
Will this make you wealthy? No. But this money covers vacations, home improvements, and that emergency vet bill that would've stressed us out. And it's developing my career and experience that could turn into something bigger.
In Conclusion
Listen, combining motherhood and entrepreneurship is challenging. You won't find a perfect balance. Many days I'm improvising everything, running on coffee and determination, and crossing my fingers.
But I'm proud of this journey. Every single penny made is evidence of my capability. It's proof that I'm a multifaceted person.
If you're on the fence about launching a mom business? Start now. Don't wait for perfect. Your future self will thank you.
And remember: You're not merely enduring—you're hustling. Despite the fact that there's probably mysterious crumbs in your workspace.
Seriously. The whole thing is the life, despite the chaos.
From Survival Mode to Content Creator: My Journey as a Single Mom
I'm gonna be honest—single motherhood was never the plan. Nor was becoming a content creator. But here we are, years into this crazy ride, supporting my family by creating content while handling everything by myself. And real talk? It's been scary AF but incredible of my life.
How It Started: When Everything Came Crashing Down
It was three years ago when my life exploded. I can still picture sitting in my half-empty apartment (he got the furniture, I got the memories), scrolling mindlessly at 2am while my kids slept. I had less than a thousand dollars in my bank account, two mouths to feed, and a income that didn't cut it. The panic was real, y'all.
I was on TikTok to distract myself from the anxiety—because that's how we cope? when everything is chaos, right?—when I stumbled on this solo parent sharing how she paid off $30,000 in debt through posting online. I remember thinking, "She's lying or got lucky."
But rock bottom gives you courage. Or crazy. Probably both.
I installed the TikTok app the next morning. My first video? Raw, unfiltered, messy hair, sharing how I'd just spent my last $12 on a dinosaur nuggets and snacks for my kids' school lunches. I posted it and immediately regretted it. Who wants to watch someone's train wreck of a life?
Apparently, tons of people.
That video got forty-seven thousand views. 47,000 people watched me almost lose it over frozen nuggets. The comments section was this incredible community—women in similar situations, folks in the trenches, all saying "me too." That was my epiphany. People didn't want perfect. They wanted authentic.
My Brand Evolution: The Unfiltered Mom Content
The truth is about content creation: niche is crucial. And my niche? It happened organically. I became the real one.
I started posting about the stuff nobody talks about. Like how I wore the same leggings all week because executive dysfunction is real. Or the time I served cereal as a meal three nights in a row and called it "survival mode." Or that moment when my six-year-old asked where daddy went, and I had to discuss divorce to a kid who believes in magic.
My content wasn't polished. My lighting was non-existent. I filmed on a phone with a broken screen. But it was authentic, and evidently, that's what worked.
Within two months, I hit 10,000 followers. 90 days in, fifty thousand. By month six, I'd crossed 100,000. Each milestone blew my mind. Actual humans who wanted to listen to me. Plain old me—a struggling single mom who had to ask Google what this meant months before.
A Day in the Life: Juggling Everything
Here's what it actually looks like of my typical day, because content creation as a single mom is the opposite of those aesthetic "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm blares. I do want to throw my phone, but this is my hustle hours. I make coffee that I'll forget about, and I start recording. Sometimes it's a morning routine talking about money struggles. Sometimes it's me making food while discussing dealing with my ex. The lighting is whatever I can get.
7:00am: Kids wake up. Content creation pauses. Now I'm in mommy mode—feeding humans, hunting for that one shoe (seriously, always ONE), making lunch boxes, mediating arguments. The chaos is next level.
8:30am: Drop off time. I'm that mom filming at red lights in the car. Not proud of this, but bills don't care.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my hustle time. House is quiet. I'm in editing mode, replying to DMs, thinking of ideas, pitching brands, analyzing metrics. Everyone assumes content creation is simple. Nope. It's a entire operation.
I usually film in batches on certain days. That means filming 10-15 videos in a few hours. I'll swap tops so it seems like separate days. Hot tip: Keep wardrobe options close for outfit changes. My neighbors must think I'm insane, recording myself alone in the parking lot.
3:00pm: Getting the kids. Transition back to mom mode. But this is where it's complicated—sometimes my viral videos come from these after-school moments. Last week, my daughter had a complete meltdown in Target because I couldn't afford a $40 toy. I created a video in the car afterward about dealing with meltdowns as a solo parent. It got 2.3 million views.
Evening: Dinner through bedtime. I'm completely exhausted to create anything, but I'll plan posts, reply to messages, or plan tomorrow's content. Some nights, after everyone's sleeping, I'll work late because a partnership is due.
The truth? Balance is a myth. It's just controlled chaos with some victories.
The Money Talk: How I Generate Income
Look, let's discuss money because this is what people ask about. Can you make a living as a creator? For sure. Is it effortless? Absolutely not.
My first month, I made nothing. Month two? $0. Month three, I got my first collaboration—a hundred and fifty bucks to promote a meal kit service. I broke down. That one-fifty covered food.
Now, years later, here's how I make money:
Sponsored Content: This is my main revenue. I work with brands that my followers need—budget-friendly products, helpful services, kids' stuff. I charge anywhere from five hundred to five thousand dollars per campaign, depending on what they need. Last month, I did 4 sponsored posts and made $8K.
Ad Money: TikTok's creator fund pays very little—$200-$400 per month for massive numbers. YouTube ad revenue is more lucrative. I make about $1,500 monthly from YouTube, but that was a long process.
Affiliate Marketing: I share links to stuff I really use—ranging from my go-to coffee machine to the kids' beds. If someone clicks and buys, I get a percentage. This brings in about $1K monthly.
Online Products: I created a budget template and a food prep planner. $15 apiece, and I sell 50-100 per month. That's another $1-1.5K.
Coaching/Consulting: Aspiring influencers pay me to teach them the ropes. I offer consulting calls for $200 hourly. I do about 5-10 each month.
My total income: Generally, I'm making between ten and fifteen grand per month now. It website varies, some are less. It's variable, which is scary when there's no backup. But it's three times what I made at my previous job, and I'm available for my kids.
The Dark Side Nobody Talks About
It looks perfect online until you're sobbing alone because a video flopped, or managing hate comments from strangers who think they know your life.
The trolls are vicious. I've been told I'm a terrible parent, told I'm problematic, accused of lying about being a single mom. A commenter wrote, "Maybe that's why he left." That one destroyed me.
The algorithm changes constantly. One week you're getting insane views. Then suddenly, you're lucky to break 1,000. Your income varies wildly. You're never off, 24/7, worried that if you take a break, you'll lose relevance.
The mom guilt is worse beyond normal. Every video I post, I wonder: Am I sharing too much? Am I doing right by them? Will they be angry about this when they're adults? I have strict rules—limited face shots, no discussing their personal struggles, no embarrassing content. But the line is blurry sometimes.
The I get burnt out. Certain periods when I don't want to film anything. When I'm exhausted, socially drained, and completely finished. But the mortgage is due. So I show up anyway.
The Wins
But the truth is—through it all, this journey has created things I never anticipated.
Financial freedom for the first time in my life. I'm not loaded, but I cleared $18K. I have an cushion. We took a vacation last summer—Orlando, which seemed impossible not long ago. I don't check my bank account with anxiety anymore.
Control that's priceless. When my boy was sick last month, I didn't have to stress about missing work or worry about money. I worked anywhere. When there's a field trip, I'm there. I'm in their lives in ways I couldn't be with a traditional 9-5.
Support that saved me. The other influencers I've found, especially single moms, have become actual friends. We talk, collaborate, support each other. My followers have become this family. They celebrate my wins, send love, and remind me I'm not alone.
Me beyond motherhood. Finally, I have something that's mine. I'm not defined by divorce or somebody's mother. I'm a business owner. A businesswoman. A person who hustled.
What I Wish I Knew
If you're a solo parent considering content creation, listen up:
Start before you're ready. Your first videos will suck. Mine did. Everyone starts there. You learn by doing, not by waiting until everything is perfect.
Be yourself. People can smell fake from a mile away. Share your real life—the unfiltered truth. That's what works.
Keep them safe. Create rules. Decide what you will and won't share. Their privacy is non-negotiable. I keep names private, minimize face content, and respect their dignity.
Don't rely on one thing. Spread it out or one revenue source. The algorithm is unpredictable. Multiple income streams = stability.
Create in batches. When you have quiet time, record several. Future you will thank yourself when you're unable to film.
Build community. Engage. Reply to messages. Connect authentically. Your community is your foundation.
Track metrics. Be strategic. If something takes four hours and flops while a different post takes 20 minutes and gets 200,000 views, adjust your strategy.
Take care of yourself. You can't pour from an empty cup. Take breaks. Protect your peace. Your wellbeing matters more than anything.
Give it time. This takes time. It took me months to make real income. The first year, I made fifteen thousand. Year two, $80K. Now, I'm hitting six figures. It's a process.
Remember why you started. On hard days—and they happen—remember why you're doing this. For me, it's financial freedom, time with my children, and showing myself that I'm more than I believed.
The Reality Check
Look, I'm not going to sugarcoat this. This life is hard. Like, really freaking hard. You're operating a business while being the only parent of children who require constant attention.
Certain days I doubt myself. Days when the trolls affect me. Days when I'm completely spent and wondering if I should just get a "normal" job with consistent income.
But and then my daughter shares she's happy I'm here. Or I see financial progress. Or I receive a comment from a follower saying my content gave her courage. And I understand the impact.
The Future
Not long ago, I was terrified and clueless how to make it work. Currently, I'm a full-time creator making triple what I earned in corporate America, and I'm there for my kids.
My goals moving forward? Hit 500K by December. Begin podcasting for other single moms. Write a book eventually. Expand this business that changed my life.
This journey gave me a second chance when I was desperate. It gave me a way to provide for my family, be there, and create something meaningful. It's not what I planned, but it's perfect.
To every single mom out there on the fence: You absolutely can. It won't be easy. You'll want to quit some days. But you're already doing the toughest gig—single parenting. You're tougher than you realize.
Jump in messy. Stay consistent. Prioritize yourself. And remember, you're more than just surviving—you're building something incredible.
Gotta go now, I need to go record a video about another last-minute project and I'm just now hearing about it. Because that's the content creator single mom life—making content from chaos, video by video.
No cap. This path? It's worth every struggle. Even when there's definitely Goldfish crackers everywhere. Living the dream, imperfectly perfect.