Let me tell you, mom life is absolutely wild. But plot twist? Attempting to hustle for money while dealing with toddlers and their chaos.
I entered the side gig world about several years ago when I discovered that my Target runs were way too frequent. I had to find my own money.
Being a VA
So, my initial venture was becoming a virtual assistant. And real talk? It was ideal. It let me get stuff done when the house was finally peaceful, and all I needed was my trusty MacBook and a prayer.
I began by easy things like handling emails, doing social media scheduling, and entering data. Pretty straightforward. My rate was about fifteen dollars an hour, which felt cheap but when you don't know what you're doing yet, you gotta start somewhere.
What cracked me up? I would be on a client call looking completely put together from the waist up—looking corporate—while wearing pants I'd owned since 2015. Main character energy.
The Etsy Shop Adventure
Once I got comfortable, I ventured into the selling on Etsy. Literally everyone seemed to be on Etsy, so I was like "why not me?"
I created creating PDF planners and home decor prints. The a complete overview thing about selling digital stuff? Design it once, and it can keep selling indefinitely. Actually, I've made sales at times when I didn't even know.
The first time someone bought something? I freaked out completely. My husband thought the house was on fire. Nope—just me, doing a happy dance for my five dollar sale. Judge me if you want.
The Content Creation Grind
Then I ventured into creating content online. This venture is definitely a slow burn, trust me on this.
I started a family lifestyle blog where I shared what motherhood actually looks like—the messy truth. None of that Pinterest-perfect life. Just the actual truth about how I once found a chicken nugget in my bra.
Building traffic was like watching paint dry. Initially, it was basically my only readers were my mom and two bots. But I persisted, and over time, things gained momentum.
These days? I generate revenue through affiliate marketing, brand partnerships, and ad revenue. This past month I generated over two grand from my blog alone. Mind-blowing, right?
SMM Side Hustle
After I learned social media for my own stuff, other businesses started reaching out if I could run their social media.
Real talk? Tons of businesses suck at social media. They know they have to be on it, but they can't keep up.
Enter: me. I oversee social media for a handful of clients—different types of businesses. I develop content, schedule posts, handle community management, and analyze the metrics.
I bill between five hundred to fifteen hundred monthly per business, depending on the complexity. Here's what's great? I can do most of it from my iPhone.
Writing for Money
For those who can string sentences together, content writing is seriously profitable. I'm not talking literary fiction—I'm talking about commercial writing.
Websites and businesses are desperate for content. My assignments have included everything from subjects I knew nothing about before Googling. Being an expert isn't required, you just need to be good at research.
I typically earn $0.10-0.50 per word, depending on the topic and length. Some months I'll crank out 10-15 articles and make one to two thousand extra.
Here's what's wild: Back in school I hated writing papers. These days I'm earning a living writing. The irony.
Virtual Tutoring
2020 changed everything, online tutoring exploded. As a former educator, so this was right up my alley.
I signed up with several tutoring platforms. It's super flexible, which is non-negotiable when you have kids with unpredictable schedules.
I mostly tutor elementary school stuff. The pay ranges from $15-25 per hour depending on where you work.
The funny thing? Every now and then my kids will photobomb my lessons 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 very sympathetic because they're parents too.
The Reselling Game
Here me out, this particular venture I stumbled into. During a massive cleanout my kids' room and posted some items on Facebook Marketplace.
They sold so fast. That's when I realized: people will buy anything.
Currently I hit up estate sales and thrift shops, hunting for name brands. I grab something for cheap and resell at a markup.
Is it a lot of work? Not gonna lie. There's photographing, listing, and shipping. But there's something satisfying about finding hidden treasures at a yard sale and making money.
Plus: the kids think it's neat when I score cool vintage stuff. Just last week I discovered a vintage toy that my son went crazy for. Sold it for $45. Mom win.
The Truth About Side Hustles
Truth bomb incoming: side hustles aren't passive income. It's called hustling because you're hustling.
There are moments when I'm exhausted, wondering why I'm doing this. I'm working before sunrise being productive before the madness begins, then all day mom-ing, then back to work after everyone's in bed.
But you know what? These are my earnings. I don't have to ask permission to get the good coffee. I'm helping with my family's finances. My kids see that you can be both.
Tips if You're Starting Out
If you're considering a side hustle, here's what I'd tell you:
Start with one thing. Avoid trying to do everything at once. Start with one venture and become proficient before taking on more.
Be realistic about time. If naptime is your only free time, that's totally valid. A couple of productive hours is better than nothing.
Avoid comparing yourself to other moms. Everyone you're comparing yourself to? She probably started years ago and has resources you don't see. Do your thing.
Spend money on education, but carefully. You don't need expensive courses. Be careful about spending $5,000 on a coaching program until you've tried things out.
Batch your work. I learned this the hard way. Set aside specific days for specific tasks. Make Monday making stuff day. Wednesday might be administrative work.
Dealing with Mom Guilt
Let me be honest—guilt is part of this. Certain moments when I'm hustling and my child is calling for me, and I hate it.
Yet I remind myself that I'm modeling for them that hard work matters. I'm proving to them that you can be both.
Also? Earning independently has made me a better mom. I'm more fulfilled, which makes me more patient.
The Numbers
The real numbers? Generally, between all my hustles, I earn three to five thousand monthly. Some months are better, it fluctuates.
Will this make you wealthy? No. But it's paid for so many things we needed that would've caused financial strain. It's creating opportunities and knowledge that could turn into something bigger.
In Conclusion
Here's the bottom line, combining motherhood and entrepreneurship is challenging. There's no perfect balance. A lot of days I'm flying by the seat of my pants, running on coffee and determination, and doing my best.
But I'm proud of this journey. Every single bit of income is proof that I can do hard things. It shows that I have identity beyond motherhood.
If you're on the fence about launching a mom business? Go for it. Start before it's perfect. Future you will thank you.
And remember: You're not merely getting by—you're creating something amazing. Even when there's likely snack crumbs stuck to your laptop.
No cap. This is pretty amazing, chaos and all.
From Rock Bottom to Creator Success: My Journey as a Single Mom
I'm gonna be honest—being a single parent wasn't on my vision board. Neither was turning into an influencer. But yet here I am, years into this crazy ride, making a living by sharing my life online while handling everything by myself. 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 three years ago when my marriage ended. I remember sitting in my mostly empty place (he took the couch, I got the kids' art projects), unable to sleep at 2am while my kids were asleep. I had eight hundred forty-seven dollars in my bank account, little people counting on me, and a income that didn't cut it. The stress was unbearable, y'all.
I was on TikTok to distract myself from the anxiety—because that's the move? when we're drowning, right?—when I came across this divorced mom talking about how she changed her life through content creation. I remember thinking, "She's lying or got lucky."
But rock bottom gives you courage. Maybe both. Usually both.
I installed the TikTok creator app the next morning. My first video? Me, no makeup, messy bun, sharing how I'd just blown my final $12 on a cheap food for my kids' school lunches. I uploaded it and wanted to delete it. Why would anyone care about this disaster?
Apparently, thousands of people.
That video got 47K views. Forty-seven thousand people watched me almost lose it over $12 worth of food. The comments section was this incredible community—women in similar situations, other people struggling, all saying "me too." That was my epiphany. People didn't want perfection. They wanted authentic.
Building My Platform: The Honest Single Parent Platform
Here's the secret about content creation: you need a niche. And my niche? I stumbled into it. I became the mom who tells the truth.
I started creating content about the stuff nobody talks about. Like how I didn't change pants for days because executive dysfunction is real. Or when I served cereal as a meal several days straight and called it "creative meal planning." Or that moment when my child asked why we don't live with dad, and I had to discuss divorce to a kid who is six years old.
My content wasn't polished. My lighting was terrible. I filmed on a busted phone. But it was unfiltered, and turns out, that's what connected.
Two months later, I hit 10,000 followers. 90 days in, 50K. By half a year, I'd crossed 100,000. Each milestone seemed fake. Real accounts who wanted to follow me. Little old me—a struggling single mom who had to ask Google what this meant not long ago.
My Daily Reality: Managing It All
Let me paint you a picture 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 NOT want to get up, but this is my sacred content creation time. I make coffee that will get cold, and I begin creating. Sometimes it's a morning routine sharing about budgeting. Sometimes it's me meal prepping while discussing co-parenting struggles. The lighting is whatever natural light comes through my kitchen window.
7:00am: Kids get up. Content creation stops. Now I'm in mommy mode—feeding humans, hunting for that one shoe (where do they go), packing lunches, referee duties. The chaos is intense.
8:30am: Drop off time. I'm that mom in the carpool line filming TikToks at red lights. Don't judge me, but I gotta post.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my productive time. I'm alone finally. I'm cutting clips, being social, planning content, sending emails, looking at stats. Folks imagine content creation is simple. Wrong. It's a entire operation.
I usually batch content on Mondays and Wednesdays. That means creating 10-15 pieces in one go. I'll change clothes so it appears to be different times. Pro tip: Keep several shirts ready for easy transitions. My neighbors definitely think I'm crazy, making videos in public in the yard.
3:00pm: School pickup. Parent time. But here's the thing—sometimes my viral videos come from these after-school moments. Just last week, my daughter had a massive breakdown in Target because I said no to a forty dollar toy. I filmed a video in the vehicle later about managing big emotions as a solo parent. It got 2.3 million views.
Evening: Dinner, homework, bath time, bedtime routines. I'm generally wiped out to create anything, but I'll schedule uploads, answer messages, or prep for tomorrow. Many nights, after they're down, I'll stay up editing because a partnership is due.
The truth? There's no balance. It's just organized chaos with random wins.
The Money Talk: How I Support My Family
Alright, let's talk numbers because this is what everyone's curious about. Can you make a living as a content creator? Yes. Is it simple? Nope.
My first month, I made zero dollars. Second month? Zero. Third month, I got my first brand deal—$150 to feature a food subscription. I broke down. That hundred fifty dollars covered food.
Today, three years in, here's how I monetize:
Collaborations: This is my biggest income source. I work with brands that my followers need—practical items, helpful services, kids' stuff. I get paid anywhere from $500 to $5,000 per collaboration, depending on the scope. This past month, I did 4 sponsored posts and made $8,000.
Ad Money: The TikTok fund pays not much—a few hundred dollars per month for massive numbers. YouTube ad revenue is way better. I make about $1,500/month from YouTube, but that was a long process.
Affiliate Marketing: I post links to items I love—everything from my favorite coffee maker to the kids' beds. If anyone buys, I get a percentage. This brings in about $800-$1200/month.
Online Products: I created a single mom budget planner and a meal prep guide. They're $15 each, and I sell fifty to a hundred per month. That's another over a thousand dollars.
Consulting Services: People wanting to start pay me to teach them the ropes. I offer private coaching for two hundred per hour. I do about five to ten each month.
Overall monthly earnings: On average, I'm making $10-15K per month currently. Some months I make more, others are slower. It's variable, which is terrifying when you're the only income source. But it's 3x what I made at my corporate job, and I'm there for them.
The Struggles Nobody Talks About
From the outside it's great until you're losing it because a video didn't perform, or handling nasty DMs from random people.
The negativity is intense. I've been accused of being a bad mother, told I'm problematic, accused of lying about being a divorced parent. A commenter wrote, "Maybe your husband left because you're annoying." That one stung for days.
The platform changes. One week you're getting viral hits. The next, you're lucky to break 1,000. Your income varies wildly. You're constantly creating, never resting, scared to stop, you'll lose relevance.
The mom guilt is intense times a thousand. Everything I share, I wonder: Am I oversharing? Am I protecting my kids' privacy? Will they resent this when they're adults? I have firm rules—protected identities, nothing too personal, nothing that could embarrass them. But the line is fuzzy.
The exhaustion is real. There are weeks when I am empty. When I'm depleted, talked out, and just done. But bills don't care about burnout. So I show up anyway.
The Wins
But listen—through it all, this journey has brought me things I never imagined.
Financial stability for once in my life. I'm not a millionaire, but I eliminated my debt. I have an savings. We took a family trip last summer—Disney, which felt impossible a couple years back. I don't check my bank account with anxiety anymore.
Control that's priceless. When my kid was ill last month, I didn't have to call in to work or lose income. I worked from the pediatrician's waiting room. When there's a class party, I attend. I'm present in my kids' lives in ways I couldn't manage with a corporate job.
Community that saved me. The other influencers I've met, especially solo parents, have become actual friends. We talk, collaborate, encourage each other. My followers have become this beautiful community. They hype me up, send love, and validate me.
Me beyond motherhood. After years, I have something for me. I'm not just someone's ex-wife or somebody's mother. I'm a content creator. A content creator. Someone who made it happen.
Tips for Single Moms Wanting to Start
If you're a single mom wanting to start, here's what I wish someone had told me:
Don't wait. Your first videos will be terrible. Mine did. That's normal. You improve over time, not by overthinking.
Authenticity wins. People can spot fake. Share your real life—the unfiltered truth. That's what works.
Protect your kids. Set boundaries early. Be intentional. Their privacy is the priority. I don't use their names, limit face shots, and protect their stories.
Multiple revenue sources. Don't put all eggs in one basket or one income stream. The algorithm is unstable. Multiple income streams = stability.
Film multiple videos. When you have free time, create multiple pieces. Next week you will thank present you when you're drained.
Build community. Respond to comments. Reply to messages. Create connections. Your community is your foundation.
Analyze performance. Time is money. If something requires tons of time and gets 200 views while something else takes no time and goes viral, change tactics.
Self-care matters. You can't pour from an empty cup. Step away. Set boundaries. Your health matters more than going viral.
Be patient. This takes time. It took me eight months to make meaningful money. The first year, I made barely $15,000. Year 2, $80K. Year three, I'm projected for $100K+. It's a long game.
Remember why you started. On difficult days—and there are many—remember your reason. For me, it's independence, being there, and demonstrating that I'm capable of anything.
The Honest Truth
Real talk, I'm keeping it 100. Content creation as a single mom is challenging. Like, really freaking hard. You're running a whole business while being the lone caretaker of children who require constant attention.
Many days I question everything. Days when the nasty comments affect me. Days when I'm burnt out and wondering if I should get a regular job with benefits and a steady paycheck.
But and then my daughter says she appreciates this. Or I see my bank account actually has money in it. Or I see a message from a follower saying my content helped her leave an unhealthy relationship. And I remember my purpose.
What's Next
A few years back, I was broke, scared, and had no idea how I'd survive as a single mom. Now, I'm a full-time creator making way more than I made in my 9-5, and I'm available when they need me.
My goals now? Get to half a million followers by this year. Start a podcast for single moms. Possibly write a book. Expand this business that supports my family.
Being a creator gave me a second chance when I was desperate. It gave me a way to provide for my family, be present in their lives, and create something meaningful. It's not what I planned, but it's exactly where I needed to be.
To any single parent considering this: Hell yes you can. It will be challenging. You'll want to quit some days. But you're managing the most difficult thing—raising humans alone. You're powerful.
Begin messy. Stay the course. Guard your peace. And know this, you're beyond survival mode—you're creating something amazing.
BRB, I need to go film a TikTok about the project I just found out about and nobody told me until now. Because that's the content creator single mom life—content from the mess, video by video.
Seriously. Being a single mom creator? It's worth it. Even if there's probably crushed cheerios all over my desk. Dream life, one messy video at a time.