Here's the tea, motherhood is a whole vibe. But plot twist? Working to secure the bag while handling toddlers and their chaos.
I started my side hustle journey about three years ago when I discovered that my impulse buys were reaching dangerous levels. I needed some independent income.
The Virtual Assistant Life
Okay so, I kicked things off was doing VA work. And not gonna lie? It was ideal. I could get stuff done when the house was finally peaceful, and literally all it took was my laptop and decent wifi.
I began by easy things like organizing inboxes, managing social content, and basic admin work. Super simple stuff. I started at about fifteen to twenty bucks hourly, which felt cheap but when you're just starting, you gotta start somewhere.
Here's what was wild? I'd be on a Zoom call looking completely put together from the shoulders up—blazer, makeup, the works—while wearing pants I'd owned since 2015. Main character energy.
My Etsy Journey
After a year, I thought I'd test out the whole Etsy thing. Every mom I knew seemed to be on Etsy, so I was like "why not me?"
My shop focused on designing printable planners and home decor prints. Here's why printables are amazing? Make it one time, and it can sell forever. Genuinely, I've earned money at 3am while I was sleeping.
The first time someone bought something? I lost my mind. My partner was like something was wrong. Not even close—I was just, cheering about my first five bucks. Judge me if you want.
The Content Creation Grind
Next I got into the whole influencer thing. This venture is definitely a slow burn, let me tell you.
I began a blog about motherhood where I documented the chaos of parenting—everything unfiltered. No Instagram-perfect nonsense. Only real talk about finding mystery stains on everything I own.
Growing an audience was painfully slow. For months, I was basically creating content for crickets. But I stayed consistent, and over time, things took off.
At this point? I make money through affiliate marketing, collaborations, and display ads. Recently I earned over $2K from my website. Insane, right?
Managing Social Media
As I mastered social media for my own stuff, other businesses started asking if I could do the same for them.
Real talk? Many companies suck at social media. They understand they need to be there, but they don't have time.
I swoop in. I oversee social media for several small companies—a bakery, a boutique, and a fitness studio. I create content, schedule posts, interact with their audience, and analyze the metrics.
I charge between five hundred to a thousand dollars per month per client, depending on what they need. What I love? I do this work from my phone during soccer practice.
The Freelance Writing Hustle
For the wordy folks, freelancing is where it's at. Not like writing the next Great American Novel—this is blog posts, articles, website copy, product descriptions.
Websites and businesses constantly need fresh content. I've created content about everything from subjects I knew nothing about before Googling. Google is your best friend, you just need to be good at research.
Usually charge fifty to one hundred fifty bucks per piece, depending on the topic and length. Some months I'll produce a dozen articles and bring in an extra $1,000-2,000.
What's hilarious: I'm the same person who struggled with essays. Currently I'm making money from copyright. The irony.
Tutoring Online
After lockdown started, virtual tutoring became huge. With my teaching background, so this was right up my alley.
I signed up with a couple of online tutoring sites. You choose when you work, which is crucial when you have tiny humans who throw curveballs daily.
I mainly help with elementary reading and math. You can make from fifteen to twenty-five hourly depending on where you work.
What's hilarious? There are times when my own kids will interrupt mid-session. There was a time I educate someone's child while mine had a meltdown. The parents on the other end are incredibly understanding because they get it.
Reselling and Flipping
So, this particular venture I stumbled into. During a massive cleanout my kids' stuff and posted some items on Mercari.
They sold within hours. I had an epiphany: you can sell literally anything.
At this point I shop at estate sales and thrift shops, hunting for quality items. I grab something for cheap and resell at a markup.
It's labor-intensive? Not gonna lie. There's photographing, listing, and shipping. But it's strangely fulfilling about finding hidden treasures at a garage sale and making money.
Bonus: my kids are impressed when I bring home interesting finds. Just last week I found a retro toy that my son went crazy for. Got forty-five dollars for it. Score one for mom.
The Truth About Side Hustles
Here's the thing nobody tells you: side hustles aren't passive income. They're called hustles for a reason.
There are days when I'm surviving on caffeine and spite, questioning my life choices. I'm up at 5am working before my kids wake up, then handling mom duties, then working again after bedtime.
But here's the thing? This income is mine. I don't have to ask permission to buy the fancy coffee. I'm supporting the family budget. My kids are learning that you can be both.
Tips if You're Starting Out
If you're thinking about a mom hustle, this is what I've learned:
Don't go all in immediately. Don't try to juggle ten things. Start with one venture and become proficient before taking on more.
Use the time you have. Whatever time you have, that's okay. Two hours of focused work is a great beginning.
Comparison is the thief of joy to what you see online. Those people with massive success? They put in years of work and has resources you don't see. Run your own race.
Invest in yourself, but smartly. Free information exists. Avoid dropping thousands on courses until you've tested the waters.
Work in batches. I learned this the hard way. Dedicate certain times for certain work. Monday could be content creation day. Wednesday might be organizing and responding.
Dealing with Mom Guilt
Real talk—the mom guilt is real. Sometimes when I'm working and my kid wants attention, and I feel guilty.
But I remember that I'm modeling for them that hard work matters. I'm showing my daughter that motherhood doesn't mean giving up your identity.
Also? Financial independence has improved my mental health. I'm more content, which helps me be better.
The Numbers
How much do I earn? Generally, combining everything, I bring in $3,000-5,000 per month. It varies, others are slower.
Is this millionaire money? Not really. But it's paid for vacations, home improvements, and that emergency vet bill that would've stressed us out. And it's developing my career and knowledge that could evolve into something huge.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, combining motherhood and entrepreneurship is hard. There's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach. Many days I'm making it up as I go, powered by caffeine, and doing my best.
But I'm glad I'm doing this. Every single bit of income is a testament to my hustle. It shows that I'm not just someone's mother.
So if you're considering launching a mom business? Take the leap. Begin before you're ready. Your tomorrow self will appreciate it.
Keep in mind: You aren't only getting by—you're hustling. Despite the fact that there's likely old cheerios stuck to your laptop.
Not even kidding. This mom hustle life is where it's at, despite the chaos.
From Rock Bottom to Creator Success: My Journey as a Single Mom
I'm gonna be honest—single motherhood was never the plan. Nor was turning into an influencer. But here I am, three years into this wild journey, making a living by being vulnerable on the internet while parenting alone. And real talk? It's been the best worst decision of my life.
How It Started: When Everything Imploded
It was a few years ago when my relationship fell apart. I can still picture sitting in my new apartment (he got the furniture, I got the memories), unable to sleep at 2am while my kids were asleep. I had $847 in my bank account, two humans depending on me, and a salary that was a joke. The panic was real, y'all.
I'd been scrolling TikTok to avoid my thoughts—because that's the move? when our lives are falling apart, right?—when I stumbled on this divorced mom discussing how she paid off $30,000 in debt through being a creator. I remember thinking, "That can't be real."
But rock bottom gives you courage. Or crazy. Often both.
I got the TikTok app the next morning. My first video? No filter, no makeup, pure chaos, talking about how I'd just put my last twelve dollars on a frozen nuggets and juice boxes for my kids' lunches. I hit post and panicked. Why would anyone care about my broke reality?
Plot twist, way more people than I expected.
That video got 47,000 views. 47,000 people watched me breakdown over chicken nuggets. The comments section was this safe space—other single moms, people living the same reality, all saying "same." That was my turning point. People didn't want the highlight reel. They wanted authentic.
My Brand Evolution: The Unfiltered Mom Content
The truth is about content creation: your niche matters. And my niche? I stumbled into it. I became the real one.
I started filming the stuff no one shows. Like how I didn't change pants for days because laundry felt impossible. Or the time I served cereal as a meal three nights in a row and called it "cereal week." Or that moment when my six-year-old asked why daddy doesn't live here anymore, and I had to discuss divorce to a kid who still believes in Santa.
My content was raw. My lighting was terrible. I filmed on a ancient iPhone. But it was real, and evidently, that's what hit.
After sixty days, I hit 10,000 followers. 90 days in, 50,000. By month six, I'd crossed 100,000. Each milestone seemed fake. These were real people who wanted to follow me. Little old me—a struggling single mom who had to figure this out from zero six months earlier.
The Actual Schedule: Managing It All
Here's what it actually looks like of my typical day, because this life is not at all like those curated "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm screams. I do want to throw my phone, but this is my precious quiet time. I make coffee that will get cold, and I start recording. Sometimes it's a getting ready video discussing single mom finances. Sometimes it's me cooking while sharing custody stuff. The lighting is not great.
7:00am: Kids emerge. Content creation stops. Now I'm in survival mode—pouring cereal, locating lost items (it's always one shoe), prepping food, mediating arguments. The chaos is next level.
8:30am: Getting them to school. I'm that mom making videos while driving at stop signs. I know, I know, but the grind never stops.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my work block. House is quiet. I'm editing content, responding to comments, ideating, sending emails, looking at stats. Folks imagine content creation is just making TikToks. Absolutely not. It's a whole business.
I usually batch content on Mondays and Wednesdays. That means filming 10-15 videos in one sitting. I'll swap tops so it looks varied. Hot tip: Keep different outfits accessible for outfit changes. My neighbors definitely think I'm crazy, recording myself alone in the backyard.
3:00pm: Pickup time. Back to parenting. But this is where it's complicated—many times my viral videos come from these after-school moments. Just last week, my daughter had a epic meltdown in Target because I wouldn't buy a $40 toy. I made content in the parking lot after about handling public tantrums as a solo parent. It got millions of views.
Evening: The evening routine. I'm completely exhausted to create anything, but I'll plan posts, answer messages, or plan tomorrow's content. Many nights, after they're down, I'll edit videos until midnight because a brand deadline is looming.
The truth? Balance doesn't exist. It's just controlled chaos with moments of success.
Income Breakdown: How I Support My Family
Okay, let's talk dollars because this is what everyone's curious about. Can you really earn income as a content creator? 100%. Is it effortless? Absolutely not.
My first month, I made nothing. Second month? $0. Third month, I got my first collaboration—one hundred fifty dollars to feature a meal box. I broke down. That $150 bought groceries for two weeks.
Currently, three years in, here's how I monetize:
Sponsored Content: This is my primary income. I work with brands that my followers need—budget-friendly products, helpful services, kids' stuff. I ask for anywhere from five hundred to several thousand per collaboration, depending on what's required. Just last month, I did 4 sponsored posts and made eight thousand dollars.
TikTok Fund: The TikTok fund pays very little—maybe $200-400 per month for millions of views. YouTube ad revenue is way better. I make about $1.5K monthly from YouTube, but that took two years to build up.
Affiliate Marketing: I promote products to items I love—everything from my beloved coffee maker to the bunk beds in their room. If someone purchases through my link, I get a cut. This brings in about eight hundred to twelve hundred.
Online Products: I created a single mom budget planner and a meal planning ebook. They sell for fifteen dollars, and I sell maybe 50-100 per month. That's another $1-1.5K.
Teaching Others: New creators pay me to show them how. I offer one-on-one coaching sessions for two hundred per hour. I do about 5-10 of these monthly.
My total income: On average, I'm making $10,000-15,000 per month now. Some months are higher, some are less. 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.
What They Don't Show Nobody Posts About
This sounds easy until you're crying in your car because a post tanked, or handling hate comments from random people.
The haters are brutal. I've been mom-shamed, told I'm problematic, accused of lying about being a divorced parent. I'll never forget, "Maybe that's why he left." That one stung for days.
The algorithm is unpredictable. One month you're getting insane views. Next month, you're barely hitting 1K. Your income goes up and down. You're never off, 24/7, afraid to pause, you'll lose relevance.
The mom guilt is worse exponentially. Everything I share, I wonder: Is this appropriate? Is this okay? Will they be angry about this when they're teenagers? I have firm rules—protected identities, no sharing their private stuff, no embarrassing content. But the line is fuzzy.
The burnout hits hard. There are weeks when I have nothing. When I'm exhausted, socially drained, and just done. But rent doesn't care. So I create anyway.
The Beautiful Parts
But here's what's real—despite everything, this journey has created things I never dreamed of.
Economic stability for the first time in my life. I'm not the document here wealthy, but I paid off $18,000 in debt. I have an savings. We took a family trip last summer—Orlando, which I never thought possible two years ago. I don't panic about money anymore.
Control that's priceless. When my boy was sick last month, I didn't have to use PTO or panic. I handled business at urgent care. When there's a field trip, I'm present. I'm available in ways I wasn't able to be with a regular job.
Connection that saved me. The creator friends I've befriended, especially other moms, have become true friends. We vent, help each other, have each other's backs. My followers have become this amazing support system. They hype me up, send love, and remind me I'm not alone.
My own identity. Finally, I have something for me. I'm more than an ex or somebody's mother. I'm a business owner. A businesswoman. Someone who built something from nothing.
Tips for Single Moms Wanting to Start
If you're a solo parent wanting to start, here's what I wish someone had told me:
Don't wait. Your first videos will suck. Mine did. Everyone starts there. You get better, not by overthinking.
Be yourself. People can spot fake. Share your real life—the messy, imperfect, chaotic reality. That's what works.
Keep them safe. Set limits. Be intentional. Their privacy is sacred. I keep names private, protect their faces, and keep private things private.
Build multiple income streams. Don't put all eggs in one basket or one way to earn. The algorithm is unpredictable. Multiple income streams = stability.
Create in batches. When you have free time, record several. Future you will appreciate it when you're unable to film.
Connect with followers. Engage. Check messages. Create connections. Your community is what matters.
Track metrics. Some content isn't worth it. If something is time-intensive and tanks while something else takes 20 minutes and goes viral, shift focus.
Don't forget yourself. You need to fill your cup. Take breaks. Protect your peace. Your sanity matters most.
This takes time. This isn't a get-rich-quick scheme. It took me eight months to make meaningful money. The first year, I made fifteen thousand. Year 2, eighty grand. This year, I'm hitting six figures. It's a long game.
Stay connected to your purpose. On difficult days—and there will be many—remember why you're doing this. For me, it's independence, being present, and proving to myself that I'm capable of anything.
The Reality Check
Listen, I'm telling the truth. Being a single mom creator is challenging. So damn hard. You're operating a business while being the lone caretaker of tiny humans who need you constantly.
There are days I wonder what I'm doing. Days when the trolls affect me. Days when I'm drained and asking myself if I should quit this with consistent income.
But but then my daughter tells me she loves that I'm home. Or I see financial progress. Or I receive a comment from a follower saying my content changed her life. And I remember why I do this.
My Future Plans
Not long ago, I was broke, scared, and had no idea what to do. Fast forward, I'm a content creator making more money than I ever did in traditional work, and I'm home when my kids get off the school bus.
My goals moving forward? Hit 500K by this year. Begin podcasting for other single moms. Consider writing a book. Expand this business that gives me freedom, flexibility, and financial stability.
Being a creator gave me a lifeline when I was drowning. 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 exactly where I needed to be.
To every solo parent considering this: You can. It will be hard. You'll consider quitting. But you're handling the hardest job in the world—parenting solo. You're stronger than you think.
Jump in messy. Stay the course. Protect your peace. And remember, you're more than just surviving—you're changing your life.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go record a video about another last-minute project and surprise!. Because that's how it goes—content from the mess, one post at a time.
No cap. This life? It's the best decision. Even if there's probably crumbs stuck to my laptop right now. Living the dream, mess included.