Let me tell you, mom life is literally insane. But here's the thing? Trying to secure the bag while the document here handling toddlers and their chaos.
I entered the side gig world about three years ago when I figured out that my Target runs were reaching dangerous levels. I needed cash that was actually mine.
Virtual Assistant Hustle
Here's what happened, my initial venture was becoming a virtual assistant. And real talk? It was ideal. I could grind during those precious quiet hours, and the only requirement was a computer and internet.
My first tasks were simple tasks like email sorting, managing social content, and basic admin work. Nothing fancy. My rate was about $15-20 per hour, which wasn't much but when you don't know what you're doing yet, you gotta prove yourself first.
Honestly the most hilarious thing? I'd be on a client call looking completely put together from the waist up—full professional mode—while rocking pants I'd owned since 2015. That's the dream honestly.
My Etsy Journey
After a year, I decided to try the whole Etsy thing. All my mom friends seemed to have an Etsy shop, so I thought "why not get in on this?"
My shop focused on crafting downloadable organizers and wall art. Here's why printables are amazing? Design it once, and it can generate passive income forever. Actually, I've earned money at ungodly hours.
The first time someone bought something? I literally screamed. My partner was like I'd injured myself. Negative—it was just me, cheering about my first five bucks. I'm not embarrassed.
Content Creator Life
Next I started blogging and content creation. This venture is playing the long game, trust me on this.
I launched a mom blog where I documented my parenting journey—the messy truth. Not the highlight reel. Simply honest stories about surviving tantrums in Target.
Getting readers was slow. The first few months, I was basically my only readers were my mom and two bots. But I kept at it, and over time, things began working.
Currently? I earn income through promoting products, brand partnerships, and ad revenue. Last month I earned over $2K from my website. Wild, right?
Managing Social Media
After I learned running my own socials, brands started reaching out if I could manage their accounts.
Real talk? Tons of businesses are terrible with social media. They understand they should be posting, but they don't know how.
That's where I come in. I oversee social media for a handful of clients—a bakery, a boutique, and a fitness studio. I plan their content, queue up posts, respond to comments, and check their stats.
They pay me between $500-$1500/month per client, depending on the scope of work. Here's what's great? I do this work from my phone while sitting in the carpool line.
Writing for Money
If writing is your thing, freelance writing is incredibly lucrative. This isn't writing the next Great American Novel—this is commercial writing.
Companies constantly need fresh content. My assignments have included everything from literally everything under the sun. You don't need to be an expert, you just need to be good at research.
Usually make fifty to one hundred fifty bucks per piece, depending on what's involved. Certain months I'll crank out 10-15 articles and pull in $1-2K.
The funny thing is: I'm the same person who barely passed English class. And now I'm earning a living writing. Talk about character development.
Tutoring Online
After lockdown started, online tutoring exploded. As a former educator, so this was perfect for me.
I signed up with a couple of online tutoring sites. You choose when you work, which is non-negotiable when you have children who keep you guessing.
My sessions are usually K-5 subjects. Rates vary from fifteen to twenty-five hourly depending on the platform.
The awkward part? Every now and then my children will interrupt mid-session. I've literally had to teach fractions while my toddler screamed about the wrong color cup. The parents on the other end are incredibly understanding because they're living the same life.
The Reselling Game
So, this side gig wasn't planned. I was cleaning out my kids' room and posted some items on Facebook Marketplace.
Stuff sold out so fast. Lightbulb moment: one person's trash is another's treasure.
Now I visit thrift stores, garage sales, and clearance sections, looking for name brands. I purchase something for a few dollars and make serious profit.
It's labor-intensive? Not gonna lie. I'm photographing items, writing descriptions, shipping packages. But it's oddly satisfying about spotting valuable items at a garage sale and turning a profit.
Plus: the kids think it's neat when I score cool vintage stuff. Last week I scored a retro toy that my son absolutely loved. Made $45 on it. Victory for mom.
The Honest Reality
Real talk moment: these aren't get-rich-quick schemes. They're called hustles for a reason.
There are days when I'm running on empty, questioning my life choices. I'm working before sunrise hustling before the chaos starts, then handling mom duties, then back at it after the kids are asleep.
But here's the thing? This income is mine. I'm not asking anyone to get the good coffee. I'm helping with my family's finances. I'm teaching my children that you can be both.
What I Wish I Knew
For those contemplating a mom hustle, this is what I've learned:
Don't go all in immediately. Avoid trying to juggle ten things. Start with one venture and master it before starting something else.
Honor your limits. Your available hours, that's fine. Even one focused hour is better than nothing.
Stop comparing to Instagram moms. That mom with the six-figure side hustle? They put in years of work and has support. Stay in your lane.
Spend money on education, but carefully. Free information exists. Don't spend thousands on courses until you've tested the waters.
Batch your work. This changed everything. Block off certain times for certain work. Monday might be content creation day. Make Wednesday administrative work.
The Mom Guilt is Real
Real talk—I struggle with guilt. Certain moments when I'm on my laptop and they want to play, and I feel terrible.
But I think about that I'm modeling for them work ethic. I'm teaching my kids that you can be both.
Also? Having my own income has made me a better mom. I'm more fulfilled, which translates to better parenting.
Income Reality Check
How much do I earn? Typically, combining everything, I earn between three and five grand. Certain months are higher, some are slower.
Is this getting-rich money? Not really. But I've used it for family trips and unexpected expenses that would've stressed us out. It's also giving me confidence and knowledge that could become a full-time thing.
Final Thoughts
Look, combining motherhood and entrepreneurship isn't easy. There's no secret sauce. Often I'm improvising everything, fueled by espresso and stubbornness, and crossing my fingers.
But I'm proud of this journey. Every single dollar I earn is proof that I can do hard things. It demonstrates that I'm not just someone's mother.
For anyone contemplating beginning your hustle journey? Start now. Start messy. You in six months will be so glad you did.
And remember: You aren't only surviving—you're growing something incredible. Even if there's probably Goldfish crackers everywhere.
No cap. It's pretty amazing, mess included.
From Survival Mode to Content Creator: My Journey as a Single Mom
I'm gonna be honest—single motherhood wasn't on my vision board. I never expected to be making money from my phone. But fast forward to now, years into this crazy ride, earning income by sharing my life online while parenting alone. And real talk? It's been life-changing in every way of my life.
Rock Bottom: When Everything Changed
It was 2022 when my marriage ended. I can still picture sitting in my bare apartment (he took the couch, I got the kids' art projects), scrolling mindlessly at 2am while my kids were finally quiet. I had $847 in my account, two kids to support, and a paycheck that wasn't enough. The stress was unbearable, y'all.
I'd been mindlessly scrolling to avoid my thoughts—because that's how we cope? when we're drowning, right?—when I came across this single mom discussing how she became debt-free through content creation. I remember thinking, "That can't be real."
But being broke makes you bold. Maybe both. Probably both.
I got the TikTok creator app the next morning. My first video? Me, no makeup, messy bun, talking about how I'd just spent my last $12 on a dinosaur nuggets and snacks for my kids' lunches. I shared it and felt sick. Who gives a damn about someone's train wreck of a life?
Turns out, tons of people.
That video got 47K views. 47,000 people watched me almost lose it over chicken nuggets. The comments section became this safe space—people who got it, folks in the trenches, all saying "me too." That was my aha moment. People didn't want perfect. They wanted raw.
Building My Platform: The Honest Single Parent Platform
Here's the secret about content creation: you need a niche. And my niche? It found me. I became the unfiltered single mom.
I started posting about the stuff people hide. Like how I didn't change pants for days because washing clothes was too much. Or the time I fed my kids cereal for dinner several days straight and called it "cereal week." Or that moment when my child asked why we don't live with dad, and I had to discuss divorce to a kid who still believes in Santa.
My content wasn't polished. My lighting was terrible. I filmed on a busted phone. But it was unfiltered, and evidently, that's what connected.
After sixty days, I hit ten thousand followers. Three months later, 50,000. By half a year, I'd crossed 100,000. Each milestone seemed fake. Real accounts who wanted to listen to me. Little old me—a struggling single mom who had to Google "what is a content creator" six months earlier.
A Day in the Life: Managing It All
Here's what it actually looks like of my typical day, because creating content solo is the opposite of those aesthetic "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm sounds. I do want to throw my phone, but this is my sacred content creation time. I make coffee that I'll reheat three times, and I start filming. Sometimes it's a GRWM sharing about single mom finances. Sometimes it's me prepping lunches while talking about parenting coordination. The lighting is whatever I can get.
7:00am: Kids emerge. Content creation goes on hold. Now I'm in parent mode—pouring cereal, the shoe hunt (seriously, always ONE), throwing food in bags, mediating arguments. The chaos is real.
8:30am: Getting them to school. I'm that mom creating content in traffic at red lights. Not proud of this, but bills don't care.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my productive time. Kids are at school. I'm cutting clips, being social, thinking of ideas, reaching out to brands, looking at stats. They believe content creation is only filming. Nope. It's a full business.
I usually batch content on specific days. That means filming 10-15 videos in one sitting. I'll swap tops so it appears to be different times. Advice: Keep multiple tops nearby for outfit changes. My neighbors think I've lost it, filming myself talking to my phone in the backyard.
3:00pm: Pickup time. Parent time. But here's where it gets tricky—many times my best content ideas come from the chaos. A few days ago, my daughter had a massive breakdown in Target because I said no to a toy she didn't need. I created a video in the car later about handling public tantrums as a lone parent. It got 2.3M views.
Evening: Dinner, homework, bath time, bedtime routines. I'm completely exhausted to create content, but I'll schedule content, check DMs, or plan tomorrow's content. Many nights, after the kids are asleep, I'll edit videos until midnight because a brand deadline is looming.
The truth? No such thing as balance. It's just managed chaos with moments of success.
The Money Talk: How I Actually Make a Living
Okay, let's talk dollars because this is what everyone wants to know. Can you legitimately profit as a online creator? Yes. Is it simple? Hell no.
My first month, I made $0. Second month? Zero. Third month, I got my first sponsored post—$150 to share a meal kit service. I actually cried. That $150 paid for groceries.
Today, three years later, here's how I earn income:
Brand Partnerships: This is my biggest income source. I work with brands that make sense—things that help, mom products, children's products. I charge anywhere from five hundred to several thousand per deal, depending on the scope. Just last month, I did four collabs and made eight thousand dollars.
TikTok Fund: TikTok's creator fund pays pennies—two to four hundred per month for massive numbers. YouTube revenue is more lucrative. I make about $1.5K monthly from YouTube, but that took two years to build up.
Link Sharing: I post links to products I actually use—anything from my favorite coffee maker to the kids' beds. If someone purchases through my link, I get a commission. This brings in about $1K monthly.
Digital Products: I created a single mom budget planner and a cooking guide. They're $15 each, and I sell dozens per month. That's another $1-1.5K.
Teaching Others: Other aspiring creators pay me to teach them the ropes. I offer private coaching for two hundred dollars. I do about 5-10 of these monthly.
My total income: Most months, I'm making between ten and fifteen grand per month now. Certain months are better, some are lower. It's up and down, which is stressful when you're it. But it's 3x what I made at my 9-5, and I'm home when my kids need me.
The Hard Parts Nobody Mentions
Content creation sounds glamorous until you're crying in your car because a post tanked, or handling vicious comments from random people.
The hate comments are real. I've been accused of being a bad mother, told I'm a bad influence, accused of lying about being a solo parent. One person said, "Maybe your husband left because you're annoying." That one destroyed me.
The platform changes. One week you're getting insane views. The following week, you're struggling for views. Your income is unstable. You're constantly creating, always working, afraid to pause, you'll fall behind.
The mom guilt is worse to the extreme. Everything I share, I wonder: Is this too much? Am I protecting my kids' privacy? Will they regret this when they're grown? I have strict rules—minimal identifying info, keeping their stories private, protecting their dignity. But the line is hard to see.
The burnout is real. Some weeks when I have nothing. When I'm done, talked out, and completely finished. But the mortgage is due. So I create anyway.
The Beautiful Parts
But here's what's real—despite everything, this journey has created things I never imagined.
Financial freedom for the first damn time. I'm not wealthy, but I cleared $18K. I have an savings. We took a actual vacation last summer—Orlando, which I never thought possible not long ago. I don't check my bank account with anxiety anymore.
Flexibility that's priceless. When my child had a fever last month, I didn't have to stress about missing work or lose income. I worked from the doctor's office. When there's a school event, I attend. I'm in their lives in ways I couldn't be with a traditional 9-5.
My people that saved me. The other creators I've met, especially other single parents, have become actual friends. We talk, share strategies, encourage each other. My followers have become this family. They hype me up, lift me up, and show me I'm not alone.
Me beyond motherhood. After years, I have something that's mine. I'm not defined by divorce or just a mom. I'm a content creator. A content creator. Someone who built something from nothing.
My Best Tips
If you're a single mom thinking about this, listen up:
Don't wait. Your first videos will be terrible. Mine did. It's fine. You grow through creating, not by waiting until everything is perfect.
Authenticity wins. People can spot fake. Share your actual life—the messy, imperfect, chaotic reality. That resonates.
Protect your kids. Set boundaries early. Be intentional. Their privacy is the priority. I keep names private, minimize face content, and never discuss anything that could embarrass them.
Multiple revenue sources. Diversify or one way to earn. The algorithm is fickle. Multiple streams = safety.
Create in batches. When you have available time, make a bunch. Future you will thank present you when you're drained.
Connect with followers. Answer comments. Check messages. Build real relationships. Your community is crucial.
Track metrics. Not all content is worth creating. If something takes four hours and tanks while something else takes minutes and goes viral, shift focus.
Self-care matters. You matter too. Rest. Set boundaries. Your wellbeing matters most.
Stay patient. This takes time. It took me half a year to make any real money. The first year, I made barely $15,000. The second year, $80K. This year, I'm hitting six figures. It's a marathon.
Stay connected to your purpose. On hard days—and there will be many—remember why you're doing this. For me, it's money, being there, and showing myself that I'm capable of anything.
The Honest Truth
Listen, I'm telling the truth. This journey is challenging. Really hard. You're running a whole business while being the lone caretaker of tiny humans who need you constantly.
Many days I doubt myself. Days when the hate comments get to me. Days when I'm drained and wondering if I should quit this with consistent income.
But and then my daughter shares she's happy I'm here. 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.
The Future
A few years back, I was terrified and clueless how to make it work. Today, I'm a content creator making more money than I ever did in my old job, and I'm there for my kids.
My goals going forward? Get to half a million followers by end of year. Start a podcast for single parents. Consider writing a book. Keep building this business that supports my family.
Content creation gave me a second chance when I had nothing. It gave me a way to provide for my family, be there, and build something I'm genuinely proud of. It's not the path I expected, but it's meant to be.
To every solo parent thinking about starting: Yes you can. It won't be easy. You'll doubt yourself. But you're currently doing the toughest gig—single parenting. You're stronger than you think.
Start messy. Stay consistent. Keep your boundaries. And always remember, you're not just surviving—you're creating something amazing.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go make a video about homework I forgot about and I just learned about it. Because that's how it goes—turning chaos into content, one post at a time.
For real. This life? It's worth it. Despite I'm sure there's crushed cheerios all over my desk. Living the dream, imperfectly perfect.