Here's the tea, motherhood is a whole vibe. But plot twist? Attempting to hustle for money while handling kids, laundry, and approximately 47 snack requests per day.
This whole thing started for me about several years ago when I had the epiphany that my impulse buys were way too frequent. I needed some independent income.
Being a VA
Here's what happened, I started out was becoming a virtual assistant. And honestly? It was ideal. It let me grind during those precious quiet hours, and literally all it took was a computer and internet.
I began by easy things like email sorting, doing social media scheduling, and basic admin work. Not rocket science. I charged about $15-20 per hour, which seemed low but when you're just starting, you gotta prove yourself first.
The funniest part? I would be on a client call looking completely put together from the chest up—business casual vibes—while sporting pants I'd owned since 2015. Living my best life.
The Etsy Shop Adventure
After a year, I wanted to explore the whole Etsy thing. Everyone and their mother seemed to be on Etsy, so I figured "why not get in on this?"
I began crafting digital planners and home decor prints. Here's why printables are amazing? Design it once, and it can sell forever. Genuinely, I've gotten orders at 3am while I was sleeping.
That initial sale? I freaked out completely. My husband thought the house was on fire. Nope—it was just me, doing a happy dance for my first five bucks. Judge me if you want.
The Content Creation Grind
Then I got into blogging and content creation. This hustle is not for instant gratification seekers, let me tell you.
I launched a parenting blog where I shared the chaos of parenting—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Not the highlight reel. Simply the actual truth about surviving tantrums in Target.
Growing an audience was slow. At the beginning, I was basically creating content for crickets. But I didn't give up, and eventually, things started clicking.
These days? I make money through affiliate marketing, brand partnerships, and display ads. Just last month I brought in over two grand from my website. Wild, right?
Managing Social Media
After I learned running my own socials, brands started reaching out if I could run their social media.
And honestly? A lot of local businesses don't understand social media. They realize they need a presence, but they can't keep up.
This is my moment. I currently run social media for several small companies—different types of businesses. I make posts, queue up posts, respond to comments, and track analytics.
My rate is between $500-1500 per month per client, depending on the complexity. The best thing? I do this work from my phone during soccer practice.
Writing for Money
If you can write, content writing is an insightful piece seriously profitable. Not like becoming Shakespeare—I'm talking about blog posts, articles, website copy, product descriptions.
Websites and businesses need content constantly. 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 find information.
Generally bill between fifty and two hundred per article, depending on what's involved. Some months I'll create fifteen articles and bring in a couple thousand dollars.
Here's what's wild: I was that student who struggled with essays. These days I'm a professional writer. Life's funny like that.
Tutoring Online
2020 changed everything, tutoring went digital. I was a teacher before kids, so this was perfect for me.
I signed up with a couple of online tutoring sites. It's super flexible, which is essential when you have unpredictable little ones.
I mostly tutor basic subjects. The pay ranges from fifteen to twenty-five hourly depending on where you work.
What's hilarious? There are times when my kids will crash my tutoring session mid-session. There was a time I be professional while chaos erupted behind me. My clients are very sympathetic because they get it.
Flipping Items for Profit
Okay, this side gig I stumbled into. During a massive cleanout my kids' room and posted some items on copyright.
They sold instantly. I had an epiphany: people will buy anything.
Now I hit up secondhand stores and sales, on the hunt for name brands. I'll buy something for $3 and sell it for $30.
This takes effort? For sure. There's photographing, listing, and shipping. But I find it rewarding about spotting valuable items at a garage sale and making money.
Plus: my kids are impressed when I find unique items. Recently I grabbed a retro toy that my son went crazy for. Sold it for $45. Victory for mom.
The Truth About Side Hustles
Let me keep it real: these aren't get-rich-quick schemes. The word 'hustle' is there for a reason.
Certain days when I'm surviving on caffeine and spite, questioning my life choices. I'm up at 5am getting stuff done while it's quiet, then doing all the mom stuff, then more hustle time after everyone's in bed.
But this is what's real? These are my earnings. I'm not asking anyone to get the good coffee. I'm adding to the family budget. My kids are learning that you can be both.
Advice for New Mom Hustlers
If you're considering a side gig, here's my advice:
Start with one thing. Don't attempt to do everything at once. Pick one thing and master it before adding more.
Work with your schedule. If naptime is your only free time, that's fine. Even one focused hour is valuable.
Comparison is the thief of joy to what you see online. The successful ones you see? She probably started years ago and doesn't do it alone. Stay in your lane.
Learn and grow, but carefully. Free information exists. Don't spend $5,000 on a coaching program until you've tested the waters.
Batch your work. This is crucial. Set aside specific days for specific tasks. Make Monday creation day. Wednesday might be handling business stuff.
The Mom Guilt is Real
Real talk—the mom guilt is real. There are days when I'm focused on work while my kids need me, and I feel guilty.
However I remind myself that I'm showing them how to hustle. I'm demonstrating to my children that you can be both.
Additionally? Having my own income has made me a better mom. I'm more satisfied, which makes me more patient.
Income Reality Check
How much do I earn? On average, between all my hustles, I bring in $3,000-5,000 per month. Some months are lower, others are slower.
Is this millionaire money? Nope. But I've used it for stuff that matters to us that would've been really hard. Plus it's developing my career and expertise that could evolve into something huge.
Wrapping This Up
Here's the bottom line, hustling as a mom takes work. There's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach. A lot of days I'm making it up as I go, fueled by espresso and stubbornness, and crossing my fingers.
But I don't regret it. Every single bit of income is validation of my effort. It's evidence that I'm more than just mom.
So if you're considering launching a mom business? Start now. Begin before you're ready. You in six months will be grateful.
Keep in mind: You're more than surviving—you're hustling. Despite the fact that you probably have old cheerios stuck to your laptop.
No cap. The whole thing is where it's at, complete with all the chaos.
From Survival Mode to Content Creator: My Journey as a Single Mom
Here's the truth—being a single parent wasn't on my vision board. Nor was building a creator business. But here we are, three years into this wild journey, supporting my family by creating content while raising two kids basically solo. And not gonna lie? It's been the best worst decision of my life.
The Beginning: When Everything Changed
It was a few years ago when my life exploded. I remember sitting in my new apartment (he took the couch, I got the kids' art projects), scrolling mindlessly at 2am while my kids were passed out. I had less than a thousand dollars in my checking account, little people counting on me, and a job that barely covered rent. The panic was real, y'all.
I'd been mindlessly scrolling to numb the pain—because that's what we do? in crisis mode, right?—when I came across this solo parent sharing how she became debt-free through posting online. I remember thinking, "No way that's legit."
But when you're desperate, you try anything. Or crazy. Sometimes both.
I installed the TikTok studio app the next morning. My first video? Completely unpolished, talking about how I'd just put my last twelve dollars on a dinosaur nuggets and snacks for my kids' school lunches. I uploaded it and wanted to delete it. Who gives a damn about someone's train wreck of a life?
Turns out, a lot of people.
That video got 47,000 views. Forty-seven thousand people watched me get emotional over $12 worth of food. The comments section turned into this unexpected source of support—women in similar situations, others barely surviving, all saying "me too." That was my lightbulb moment. People didn't want perfect. They wanted real.
Discovering My Voice: The Real Mom Life Brand
Here's what nobody tells you about content creation: your niche matters. And my niche? I stumbled into it. I became the unfiltered single mom.
I started posting about the stuff no one shows. Like how I once wore the same yoga pants for four days straight because I couldn't handle laundry. Or the time I served cereal as a meal several days straight and called it "breakfast for dinner week." Or that moment when my child asked about the divorce, and I had to have big conversations to a kid who is six years old.
My content wasn't pretty. My lighting was trash. I filmed on a busted phone. But it was honest, and turns out, that's what worked.
Within two months, I hit 10K. 90 days in, fifty thousand. By six months, I'd crossed six figures. Each milestone felt impossible. Real accounts who wanted to know my story. Little old me—a broke single mom who had to learn everything from scratch recently.
A Day in the Life: Juggling Everything
Here's the reality of my typical day, because this life is the opposite of those perfect "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm screams. I do absolutely not want to wake up, but this is my hustle hours. I make coffee that I'll reheat three times, and I get to work. Sometimes it's a get-ready-with-me discussing money struggles. Sometimes it's me cooking while venting about dealing with my ex. The lighting is not great.
7:00am: Kids are awake. Content creation goes on hold. Now I'm in mommy mode—feeding humans, the shoe hunt (where do they go), throwing food in bags, stopping fights. The chaos is next level.
8:30am: Carpool line. I'm that mom making videos while driving in the car. Not my proudest moment, but bills don't care.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my work block. Kids are at school. I'm cutting clips, being social, brainstorming content ideas, doing outreach, looking at stats. People think content creation is just making TikToks. Nope. It's a whole business.
I usually batch content on Mondays and Wednesdays. That means making a dozen videos in a few hours. I'll switch outfits so it appears to be different times. Pro tip: Keep different outfits accessible for quick changes. My neighbors must think I'm insane, recording myself alone in the backyard.
3:00pm: School pickup. Parent time. But plot twist—frequently my biggest hits come from these after-school moments. Recently, my daughter had a epic meltdown in Target because I refused to get a expensive toy. I made content in the vehicle after about surviving tantrums as a single mom. It got 2.3 million views.
Evening: All the evening things. I'm completely exhausted to create content, but I'll schedule uploads, answer messages, or prep for tomorrow. Some nights, after bedtime, I'll work late because a partnership is due.
The truth? Balance doesn't exist. It's just organized chaos with random wins.
Let's Talk Income: How I Really Earn Money
Alright, let's talk dollars because this is what everyone's curious about. Can you legitimately profit as a online creator? Yes. Is it easy? Not even close.
My first month, I made zero dollars. Second month? Still nothing. Month three, I got my first collaboration—$150 to promote a meal kit service. I actually cried. That hundred fifty dollars bought groceries for two weeks.
Today, three years in, here's how I monetize:
Brand Deals: This is my primary income. I work with brands that fit my niche—practical items, helpful services, family items. I ask for anywhere from $500 to $5,000 per partnership, depending on deliverables. Last month, I did four collabs and made eight thousand dollars.
Platform Payments: Creator fund pays very little—a few hundred dollars per month for massive numbers. YouTube money is better. I make about fifteen hundred a month from YouTube, but that was a long process.
Affiliate Marketing: I promote products to things I own—ranging from my favorite coffee maker to the kids' beds. If anyone buys, I get a kickback. This brings in about eight hundred to twelve hundred.
Downloadables: I created a money management guide and a cooking guide. Each costs $15, and I sell 50-100 per month. That's another thousand to fifteen hundred.
Teaching Others: People wanting to start pay me to teach them the ropes. I offer 1:1 sessions for two hundred dollars. I do about five to ten each month.
Overall monthly earnings: Most months, I'm making ten to fifteen thousand per month these days. Certain months are better, others are slower. It's unpredictable, which is nerve-wracking when you're solo. But it's triple what I made at my previous job, and I'm home when my kids need me.
The Struggles Nobody Posts About
This sounds easy until you're losing it because a post got no views, or reading hate comments from keyboard warriors.
The trolls are vicious. I've been told I'm a terrible parent, told I'm using my children, questioned about being a divorced parent. I'll never forget, "Maybe that's why he left." That one stung for days.
The algorithm is unpredictable. Certain periods you're getting insane views. Then suddenly, you're struggling for views. Your income is unstable. You're constantly creating, never resting, worried that if you take a break, you'll lose relevance.
The mom guilt is amplified times a thousand. Every video I post, I wonder: Am I sharing too much? Is this okay? Will they resent this when they're teenagers? I have clear boundaries—limited face shots, keeping their stories private, nothing that could embarrass them. But the line is hard to see.
The burnout is real. Sometimes when I am empty. When I'm done, socially drained, and totally spent. But rent doesn't care. So I push through.
The Unexpected Blessings
But here's what's real—through it all, this journey has created things I never anticipated.
Financial freedom for once in my life. I'm not wealthy, but I eliminated my debt. I have an emergency fund. We took a vacation last summer—Disney World, which was a dream two years ago. I don't stress about my account anymore.
Time freedom that's priceless. When my boy was sick last month, I didn't have to stress about missing work or panic. I handled business at urgent care. When there's a school thing, I can go. I'm available in ways I wasn't with a traditional 9-5.
Support that saved me. The other influencers I've found, especially other single parents, have become real friends. We support each other, exchange tips, support each other. My followers have become this beautiful community. They support me, encourage me through rough patches, and show me I'm not alone.
Identity beyond "mom". Since becoming a mom, I have something that's mine. I'm not defined by divorce or somebody's mother. I'm a entrepreneur. An influencer. Someone who built something from nothing.
What I Wish I Knew
If you're a single mother curious about this, listen up:
Start before you're ready. Your first videos will suck. Mine did. That's normal. You improve over time, not by procrastinating.
Keep it real. People can spot fake. Share your honest life—the unfiltered truth. That's what connects.
Protect your kids. Set boundaries early. Be intentional. Their privacy is everything. I keep names private, minimize face content, and keep private things private.
Build multiple income streams. Don't rely on just one platform or one revenue source. The algorithm is fickle. Diversification = security.
Film multiple videos. When you have quiet time, make a bunch. Next week you will appreciate it when you're too exhausted to create.
Build community. Reply to comments. Respond to DMs. Be real with them. Your community is everything.
Monitor what works. Not all content is worth creating. If something takes four hours and gets nothing while something else takes 20 minutes and goes viral, adjust your strategy.
Take care of yourself. You can't pour from an empty cup. Rest. Create limits. Your wellbeing matters more than anything.
Stay patient. This isn't a get-rich-quick scheme. It took me half a year to make real income. My first year, I made fifteen thousand. Year two, $80,000. Now, I'm on track for six figures. It's a process.
Don't forget your why. On bad days—and they happen—recall your purpose. For me, it's money, being there, and showing myself that I'm capable of anything.
Real Talk Time
Real talk, I'm keeping it 100. Being a single mom creator is challenging. Really hard. You're operating a business while being the sole caretaker of children who require constant attention.
Many days I wonder what I'm doing. Days when the hate comments get to me. Days when I'm exhausted and stressed and asking myself if I should get a regular job with benefits and a steady paycheck.
But then suddenly my daughter says she appreciates this. Or I see financial progress. Or I read a message from a follower saying my content inspired her. And I remember my purpose.
The Future
Three years ago, I was lost and broke how to make it work. Today, I'm a full-time creator making more than I imagined in my old job, and I'm present for everything.
My goals going forward? Reach 500K by this year. Start a podcast for other single moms. Maybe write a book. Keep building this business that changed my life.
This path gave me a path forward when I needed it most. It gave me a way to take care of my children, be present in their lives, and build something I'm genuinely proud of. It's not what I planned, but it's meant to be.
To every single mom out there wondering if you can do this: You can. It will be challenging. You'll consider quitting. But you're handling the most difficult thing—doing this alone. You're powerful.
Start imperfect. Keep showing up. Prioritize yourself. And always remember, you're beyond survival mode—you're building an empire.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go record a video about the project I just found out about and surprise!. Because that's the reality—making content from chaos, one TikTok at a time.
No cap. This life? It's everything. Even when there's definitely Goldfish crackers in my keyboard. Dream life, one messy video at a time.