Let me tell you, motherhood is not for the weak. But you know what's even crazier? Working to get that bread while handling tiny humans who think sleep is optional.
This whole thing started for me about three years ago when I discovered that my random shopping trips were way too frequent. I had to find some independent income.
Virtual Assistant Hustle
Here's what happened, my initial venture was jumping into virtual assistance. And real talk? It was exactly what I needed. It let me grind during those precious quiet hours, and literally all it took was my laptop and decent wifi.
Initially I was doing simple tasks like email sorting, managing social content, and basic admin work. Not rocket science. I started at about $20/hour, which felt cheap but for someone with zero experience, you gotta prove yourself first.
Here's what was wild? Picture this: me on a client call looking like a real businesswoman from the shoulders up—full professional mode—while wearing pants I'd owned since 2015. Peak mom life.
My Etsy Journey
About twelve months in, I decided to try the handmade marketplace scene. Literally everyone seemed to sell stuff on Etsy, so I was like "why not join the party?"
My shop focused on designing printable planners and digital art prints. The beauty of printables? Make it one time, and it can keep selling indefinitely. For real, I've gotten orders at times when I didn't even know.
The first time someone bought something? I literally screamed. My partner was like I'd injured myself. Not even close—just me, doing a happy dance for my $4.99 sale. Don't judge me.
Content Creator Life
Eventually I got into the whole influencer thing. This hustle is not for instant gratification seekers, real talk.
I created a mom blog where I shared the chaos of parenting—everything unfiltered. No Instagram-perfect nonsense. Just honest stories about finding mystery stains on everything I own.
Getting readers was a test of patience. For months, I was essentially writing for myself and like three people. But I persisted, and after a while, things gained momentum.
Now? I earn income through affiliate links, sponsored posts, and advertisements on my site. Recently I made over $2,000 from my blog income. Wild, right?
Managing Social Media
When I became good with social media for my own stuff, brands started reaching out if I could do the same for them.
And honestly? Most small businesses are terrible with social media. They know they need a presence, but they don't have time.
That's where I come in. I oversee social media for a handful of clients—various small businesses. I plan their content, queue up posts, respond to comments, and monitor performance.
I bill between five hundred to a thousand dollars per month per account, depending on the complexity. The best thing? I handle this from my phone while sitting in the carpool line.
The Freelance Writing Hustle
For those who can string sentences together, content writing is a goldmine. I don't mean literary fiction—this is content writing for businesses.
Businesses everywhere constantly need fresh content. I've written everything from subjects I knew nothing about before Googling. Google is your best friend, you just need to be good at research.
Generally charge $0.10-0.50 per word, depending on how complex it is. Some months I'll create ten to fifteen pieces and make $1-2K.
Plot twist: Back in school I hated writing papers. These days I'm making money from copyright. Life is weird.
Tutoring Online
After lockdown started, virtual tutoring became huge. With my teaching background, so this was an obvious choice.
I signed up with various tutoring services. You make your own schedule, which is absolutely necessary when you have kids with unpredictable schedules.
I focus on basic subjects. You can make from $15-25 per hour depending on the platform.
The funny thing? Every now and then my children will photobomb my lessons mid-session. I've had to be professional while chaos erupted behind me. The parents on the other end are incredibly understanding because they get it.
The Reselling Game
So, this side gig wasn't planned. During a massive cleanout my kids' closet and listed some clothes on Mercari.
Items moved immediately. I suddenly understood: one person's trash is another's treasure.
Now I visit thrift stores, garage sales, and clearance sections, looking for quality items. I grab something for $3 and sell it for $30.
It's definitely work? Absolutely. There's photographing, listing, and shipping. But it's oddly satisfying about discovering a diamond in the rough at the thrift store and making profit.
Bonus: my children are fascinated when I discover weird treasures. Last week I grabbed a rare action figure that my son went crazy for. Flipped it for forty-five bucks. Victory for mom.
The Honest Reality
Here's the thing nobody tells you: these aren't get-rich-quick schemes. There's work involved, hence the name.
Some days when I'm exhausted, doubting everything. I'm grinding at dawn working before my kids wake up, then doing all the mom stuff, then back at it after the kids are asleep.
But you know what? That money is MINE. I don't have to ask permission to splurge on something nice. I'm helping with our financial goals. I'm showing my kids that moms can do anything.
What I Wish I Knew
If you want to start a hustle of your own, here's what I'd tell you:
Begin with something manageable. Don't attempt to start five businesses. Choose one hustle and master it before taking on more.
Use the time you have. If you only have evenings, that's totally valid. Even one focused hour is valuable.
Stop comparing to the highlight reels. Those people with massive success? She's been grinding forever and doesn't do it alone. Run your own race.
Invest in yourself, but strategically. There are tons of free resources. Be careful about spending thousands on courses until you've validated your idea.
Batch tasks together. This saved my sanity. Dedicate specific days for specific tasks. Monday might be making stuff day. Use Wednesday for administrative work.
The Mom Guilt is Real
I'm not gonna lie—mom guilt is a thing. There are days when I'm focused on work while my kids need me, and I struggle with it.
Yet I consider that I'm modeling for them what dedication looks like. I'm proving to them that moms can have businesses.
Plus? Financial independence has made me a better mom. I'm more content, which makes me more patient.
Let's Talk Money
How much do I earn? On average, from all my side gigs, I pull in $3,000-5,000 per month. It varies, others are slower.
Is this getting-rich money? Not exactly. But we've used it to pay for stuff that matters to us that would've stressed us out. It's also developing my career and knowledge that could grow into more.
Final Thoughts
Here's the bottom line, doing this mom hustle thing is hard. You won't find a perfect balance. Most days I'm winging it, surviving on coffee, and praying it all works out.
But I'm proud of this journey. Each penny made is evidence of my capability. It's proof that I'm a multifaceted person.
For anyone contemplating beginning your hustle journey? Do it. Don't wait for perfect. You in six months will appreciate it.
Keep in mind: You're not merely surviving—you're growing something incredible. Despite the fact that there's probably mysterious crumbs stuck to your laptop.
No cap. This mom hustle life is where it's at, despite the chaos.
From Survival Mode to Content Creator: My Journey as a Single Mom
Here's the truth—becoming a single mom wasn't on my vision board. Nor was becoming a content creator. But yet here I am, three years into this wild journey, earning income by creating content while doing this mom thing solo. And I'll be real? It's been the most terrifying, empowering, and unexpected blessing of my life.
Rock Bottom: When Everything Came Crashing Down
It was a few years ago when my divorce happened. I remember sitting in my new apartment (I kept the kids' stuff, he took everything else), staring at my phone at 2am while my kids were asleep. I had eight hundred forty-seven dollars in my account, little people counting on me, and a paycheck that wasn't enough. The fear was overwhelming, y'all.
I'd been mindlessly scrolling to numb the pain—because that's how we cope? when everything is chaos, right?—when I found this divorced mom talking about how she made six figures through content creation. I remember thinking, "That can't be real."
But being broke makes you bold. Or crazy. Usually both.
I downloaded the TikTok app the next morning. My first video? Me, no makeup, messy bun, sharing how I'd just put my last twelve dollars on a cheap food for my kids' lunch boxes. I shared it and felt sick. Why would anyone care about my broke reality?
Plot twist, way more people than I expected.
That video got forty-seven thousand views. Forty-seven thousand people watched me almost lose it over processed meat. The comments section became this unexpected source of support—people who got it, folks in the trenches, all saying "this is my life." That was my aha moment. People didn't want the highlight reel. They wanted honest.
Finding My Niche: The Unfiltered Mom Content
Here's what they don't say about content creation: you need a niche. And my niche? I stumbled into it. I became the single mom who keeps it brutally honest.
I started posting about the stuff everyone keeps private. Like how I didn't change pants for days because laundry felt impossible. Or the time I let them eat Lucky Charms for dinner several days straight and called it "breakfast for dinner week." Or that moment when my child asked where daddy went, and I had to have big conversations to a kid who believes in magic.
My content was raw. My lighting was trash. I filmed on a cracked iPhone 8. But it was honest, and apparently, that's what connected.
After sixty days, I hit 10,000 followers. Month three, 50,000. By six months, I'd crossed a hundred thousand. Each milestone blew my mind. Real accounts who wanted to hear what I had to say. Little old me—a broke single mom who had to figure this out from zero not long ago.
The Actual Schedule: Balancing Content and Chaos
Let me show you of my typical day, because creating content solo is not at all like those perfect "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm screams. I do want to throw my phone, but this is my work time. I make coffee that I'll reheat three times, and I start recording. Sometimes it's a morning routine discussing money struggles. Sometimes it's me prepping lunches while discussing co-parenting struggles. The lighting is natural and terrible.
7:00am: Kids get up. Content creation pauses. Now I'm in parent mode—making breakfast, finding the missing shoe (where do they go), prepping food, referee duties. The chaos is next level.
8:30am: School drop-off. I'm that mom creating content in traffic when stopped. I know, I know, but I gotta post.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my productive time. Kids are at school. I'm editing content, responding to comments, planning content, pitching brands, analyzing metrics. They believe content creation is simple. Absolutely not. It's a real job.
I usually create multiple videos on certain days. That means creating 10-15 pieces in a few hours. I'll change clothes so it looks varied. Pro tip: Keep several shirts ready for easy transitions. My neighbors think I've lost it, talking to my camera in the parking lot.
3:00pm: Getting the kids. Transition back to mom mode. But here's the thing—sometimes my top performing content come from this time. Last week, my daughter had a epic meltdown in Target because I said no to a expensive toy. I recorded in the Target parking lot later about dealing with meltdowns as a lone parent. It got millions of views.
Evening: Dinner, homework, bath time, bedtime routines. I'm generally wiped out to make videos, but I'll plan posts, check DMs, or strategize. Some nights, after everyone's sleeping, I'll edit for hours because a brand deadline is looming.
The truth? Balance doesn't exist. It's just chaos with a plan with random wins.
Income Breakdown: How I Actually Make a Living
Look, let's discuss money because this is what everyone wants to know. Can you legitimately profit as a creator? Absolutely. Is it simple? Absolutely not.
My first month, I made nothing. Second month? $0. Month three, I got my first paid partnership—$150 to feature a meal box. I broke down. That $150 covered food.
Currently, years later, here's how I make money:
Collaborations: This is my primary income. I work with brands that make sense—practical items, helpful services, kid essentials. I get paid anywhere from $500-5K per deal, depending on deliverables. This past month, I did four brand deals and made eight thousand dollars.
Platform Payments: TikTok's creator fund pays not much—maybe $200-400 per month for huge view counts. YouTube money is way better. I make about $1.5K monthly from YouTube, but that took forever.
Affiliate Links: I post links to items I love—ranging from my beloved coffee maker to the beds my kids use. If anyone buys, I get a cut. This brings in about $1K monthly.
Info Products: I created a money management guide and a meal prep guide. They sell for fifteen dollars, and I sell dozens per month. That's another $1,000-1,500.
Consulting Services: Aspiring influencers pay me to teach them the ropes. I offer private coaching for two hundred dollars. I do about 5-10 each month.
Combined monthly revenue: Typically, I'm making $10-15K per month at this point. Some months are higher, some are less. It's unpredictable, which is nerve-wracking when you're the only income source. But it's 3x what I made at my previous job, and I'm present.
The Struggles Nobody Mentions
From the outside it's great until you're crying in your car because a post got no views, or handling nasty DMs from strangers who think they know your life.
The negativity is intense. I've been called a bad mom, told I'm problematic, told I'm fake about being a divorced parent. A commenter wrote, "Maybe that's why he left." That one stuck with me.
The algorithm changes constantly. Certain periods you're getting millions of views. Then suddenly, you're getting nothing. Your income varies wildly. You're never off, always "on", scared to stop, you'll lose relevance.
The mom guilt is intense times a thousand. Every upload, I wonder: Is this appropriate? Am I protecting my kids' privacy? Will they be angry about this when they're teenagers? I have clear boundaries—minimal identifying info, no discussing their personal struggles, nothing that could embarrass them. But the line is blurry sometimes.
The exhaustion is real. Sometimes when I don't want to film anything. When I'm exhausted, talked out, and completely finished. But rent doesn't care. So I do it anyway.
The Unexpected Blessings
But the truth is—even with the struggles, this journey has given me things I never expected.
Financial freedom for once in my life. I'm not rich, but I eliminated my debt. I have an emergency fund. We took a vacation last summer—Orlando, which seemed impossible not long ago. I don't dread checking my balance anymore.
Control that's priceless. When my kid was ill last month, I didn't have to call in to work or panic. I worked from the doctor's office. When more info there's a school event, I'm there. I'm present in my kids' lives in ways I couldn't manage with a regular job.
My people that saved me. The other influencers I've found, especially solo parents, have become true friends. We vent, collaborate, support each other. My followers have become this incredible cheerleading squad. They cheer for me, support me, and show me I'm not alone.
My own identity. Since becoming a mom, I have something that's mine. I'm not just someone's ex-wife or only a parent. I'm a CEO. A businesswoman. Someone who built something from nothing.
My Best Tips
If you're a single parent considering content creation, here's what I'd tell you:
Start before you're ready. Your first videos will be awful. Mine did. That's okay. You get better, not by overthinking.
Keep it real. People can sense inauthenticity. Share your actual life—the chaos. That's the magic.
Guard their privacy. Set boundaries early. Have standards. Their privacy is non-negotiable. I keep names private, limit face shots, and never discuss anything that could embarrass them.
Build multiple income streams. Don't put all eggs in one basket or a single source. The algorithm is fickle. Diversification = security.
Batch your content. When you have quiet time, create multiple pieces. Future you will appreciate it when you're too exhausted to create.
Connect with followers. Answer comments. Check messages. Connect authentically. Your community is what matters.
Track your time and ROI. Not all content is worth creating. If something is time-intensive and gets 200 views while something else takes minutes and blows up, change tactics.
Don't forget yourself. You can't pour from an empty cup. Step away. Protect your peace. Your sanity matters more than views.
Be patient. This requires patience. It took me months to make any real money. Year one, I made maybe $15,000 total. The second year, $80,000. Year 3, I'm making six figures. It's a journey.
Stay connected to your purpose. On tough days—and they happen—remember why you're doing this. For me, it's money, time with my children, and validating that I'm capable of more than I thought possible.
Being Real With You
Look, I'm being honest. Being a single mom creator is tough. Like, really freaking hard. You're running a whole business while being the only parent of tiny humans who need you constantly.
Certain days I question everything. Days when the negativity hurt. Days when I'm exhausted and stressed and questioning if I should go back to corporate with insurance.
But then suddenly my daughter mentions she's happy I'm here. Or I look at my savings. Or I read a message from a follower saying my content gave her courage. And I remember why I do this.
The Future
Years ago, I was scared and struggling how to survive. Currently, I'm a full-time creator making way more than I made in traditional work, and I'm home when my kids get off the school bus.
My goals now? Get to half a million followers by end of year. Create a podcast for single parents. Possibly write a book. Keep growing this business that makes everything possible.
This journey gave me a lifeline when I needed it most. It gave me a way to take care of my children, be present in their lives, and create something meaningful. It's a surprise, but it's perfect.
To all the single moms wondering if you can do this: You can. It will be hard. You'll struggle. But you're already doing the hardest job—parenting solo. You're powerful.
Begin messy. Be consistent. Protect your peace. And know this, you're doing more than surviving—you're building an empire.
Gotta go now, I need to go make a video about homework I forgot about and I'm just now hearing about it. Because that's this life—chaos becomes content, video by video.
Honestly. This path? It's the best decision. Even though there might be crumbs everywhere. No regrets, chaos and all.