Real talk, mom life is not for the weak. But you know what's even crazier? Working to make some extra cash while managing toddlers and their chaos.
I entered the side gig world about a few years back when I had the epiphany that my impulse buys were way too frequent. I was desperate for some independent income.
Virtual Assistant Hustle
So, my initial venture was jumping into virtual assistance. And I'll be real? It was exactly what I needed. I was able to get stuff done when the house was finally peaceful, and literally all it took was my trusty MacBook and a prayer.
I began by basic stuff like email sorting, doing social media scheduling, and basic admin work. Pretty straightforward. My rate was about fifteen dollars an hour, which seemed low but as a total beginner, you gotta start somewhere.
Here's what was wild? I would be on a Zoom call looking like a real businesswoman from the waist up—full professional mode—while wearing my rattiest leggings. That's the dream honestly.
Selling on Etsy
Once I got comfortable, I decided to try the handmade marketplace scene. Everyone and their mother seemed to have an Etsy shop, so I thought "why not get in on this?"
I started making digital planners and home decor prints. The beauty of printables? Make it one time, and it can generate passive income forever. Literally, I've made sales at ungodly hours.
When I got my first order? I literally screamed. My partner was like something was wrong. Not even close—it was just me, celebrating my five dollar sale. Don't judge me.
Blogging and Creating
Eventually I started the whole influencer thing. This one is definitely a slow burn, trust me on this.
I launched a mom blog where I shared what motherhood actually looks like—everything unfiltered. None of that Pinterest-perfect life. Simply honest stories about surviving tantrums in Target.
Getting readers was a test of patience. The first few months, I was essentially creating content for crickets. But I stayed consistent, and after a while, things took off.
At this point? I make money through affiliate links, working with brands, and advertisements on my site. Recently I earned over two grand from my website. Wild, right?
The Social Media Management Game
As I mastered running my own socials, other businesses started inquiring if I could manage their accounts.
Real talk? Many companies suck at social media. They realize they should be posting, but they're clueless about the algorithm.
That's where I come in. I handle social media for several small companies—various small businesses. I develop content, schedule posts, interact with their audience, and track analytics.
My rate is between five hundred to fifteen hundred monthly per business, depending on what they need. The best thing? I handle this from my phone during soccer practice.
Writing for Money
For those who can string sentences together, freelance writing is a goldmine. Not like writing the next Great American Novel—this is commercial writing.
Websites and businesses are desperate for content. I've written articles about everything from dental hygiene to copyright. Being an expert isn't required, you just need to be able to learn quickly.
On average make $50-150 per article, depending on length and complexity. Certain months I'll write fifteen articles and make a couple thousand dollars.
Here's what's wild: I'm the same person who barely passed English class. These days I'm a professional writer. Life is weird.
The Online Tutoring Thing
2020 changed everything, online tutoring exploded. I was a teacher before kids, so this was perfect for me.
I joined VIPKid and Tutor.com. It's super flexible, which is absolutely necessary when you have children who keep you guessing.
I mainly help with K-5 subjects. You can make from $15-$25/hour depending on the company.
What's hilarious? There are times when my children will burst into the room mid-session. There was a time I maintain composure during complete chaos in the background. My clients are very sympathetic because they're parents too.
The Reselling Game
Here me out, this one happened accidentally. I was decluttering my kids' room and put some things on Facebook Marketplace.
Things sold immediately. I suddenly understood: you can sell literally anything.
At this point I hit up secondhand stores and sales, looking for things that will sell. I'll find something for a few dollars and make serious profit.
It's labor-intensive? Not gonna lie. There's photographing, listing, and shipping. But there's something satisfying about spotting valuable items at a garage sale and earning from it.
Also: my children are fascinated when I score cool vintage stuff. Recently I discovered a vintage toy that my son lost his mind over. Sold it for $45. Score one for mom.
The Truth About Side Hustles
Real talk moment: this stuff requires effort. The word 'hustle' is there for a reason.
Certain days when I'm surviving on caffeine and spite, questioning my life choices. I'm working before sunrise being productive before the madness begins, then doing all the mom stuff, then back to work after 8pm hits.
But here's the thing? That money is MINE. I don't have to ask permission to treat myself. I'm contributing to the family budget. I'm teaching my children that you can be both.
Advice for New Mom Hustlers
For those contemplating a hustle of your own, here are my tips:
Start with one thing. Avoid trying to juggle ten things. Pick one thing and get good at it before taking on more.
Work with your schedule. If naptime is your only free time, that's okay. Two hours of focused work is a great beginning.
Comparison is the thief of joy to Instagram moms. That mom with the six-figure side hustle? She probably started years ago and doesn't do it alone. Do your thing.
Don't be afraid to invest, but strategically. Free information exists. Don't spend massive amounts on training until you've tested the waters.
Work in batches. This is crucial. Block off days for specific hustles. Monday might be content creation day. Wednesday could be handling business stuff.
Dealing with Mom Guilt
I have to be real with you—the mom guilt is real. There are times when I'm working and my kid wants attention, and I feel terrible.
But then I remind myself that I'm teaching them that hard work matters. I'm teaching my kids that motherhood doesn't mean giving up your identity.
Also? Financial independence has been good for me. I'm happier, which makes me more patient.
Income Reality Check
How much do I earn? Most months, from all my side gigs, I earn between three and five grand. It varies, others are slower.
Is it life-changing money? No. But I've used it for vacations, home improvements, and that emergency vet bill that would've been really hard. It's giving me confidence and expertise that could evolve into something huge.
Final Thoughts
Listen, doing this mom hustle thing takes work. There's no magic formula. Most days I'm improvising everything, running on coffee and determination, and praying it all works out.
But I wouldn't change it. Each bit of income is a testament to my hustle. It's proof that I have identity beyond motherhood.
For anyone contemplating launching a mom business? Go for it. Begin before you're ready. Your future self will appreciate it.
Always remember: You're more than enduring—you're growing something incredible. Even if there's probably mysterious crumbs in your workspace.
No cap. This is where it's at, despite the chaos.
From Survival Mode to Content Creator: My Journey as a Single Mom
Real talk—being a single parent was never the plan. Nor was becoming a content creator. But yet here I am, three years later, paying bills by being vulnerable on the internet while handling everything by myself. And not gonna lie? It's been life-changing in every way of my life.
The Starting Point: When Everything Fell Apart
It was three years ago when my marriage ended. I can still picture sitting in my mostly empty place (I kept the kids' stuff, he took everything else), wide awake at 2am while my kids were passed out. I had $847 in my account, little people counting on me, and a income that didn't cut it. The stress was unbearable, y'all.
I'd been mindlessly scrolling to distract myself from the anxiety—because that's the move? when everything is chaos, right?—when I found this divorced mom sharing how she made six figures through being a creator. I remember thinking, "That's either a scam or she's incredibly lucky."
But desperation makes you brave. Maybe both. Usually both.
I got the TikTok studio app the next morning. My first video? Me, no makeup, messy bun, venting about how I'd just used my last twelve bucks on a frozen nuggets and juice boxes for my kids' school lunches. I shared it and felt sick. Why would anyone care about my broke reality?
Apparently, way more people than I expected.
That video got forty-seven thousand views. Nearly fifty thousand people watched me nearly cry over chicken nuggets. The comments section was this validation fest—other single moms, other people struggling, all saying "same." That was my turning point. People didn't want perfection. They wanted authentic.
Finding My Niche: The Unfiltered Mom Content
The truth is about content creation: niche is crucial. And my niche? It chose me. I became the real one.
I started posting about the stuff no one shows. Like how I didn't change pants for days because executive dysfunction is real. Or when I fed my kids cereal for dinner several days straight and called it "creative meal planning." Or that moment when my child asked why daddy doesn't live here anymore, and I had to talk about complex things 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 authentic, and apparently, that's what resonated.
In just two months, I hit 10,000 followers. Three months later, 50,000. By month six, I'd crossed a hundred thousand. Each milestone seemed fake. Real accounts who wanted to hear what I had to say. Little old me—a barely surviving single mom who had to figure this out from zero six months earlier.
The Daily Grind: Balancing Content and Chaos
Let me show you of my typical day, because content creation as a single mom is the opposite of those curated "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm blares. I do NOT want to get up, but this is my sacred content creation time. I make coffee that I'll microwave repeatedly, and I start filming. Sometimes it's a getting ready video sharing about single mom finances. Sometimes it's me prepping lunches while talking about parenting coordination. The lighting is not great.
7:00am: Kids get up. Content creation stops. Now I'm in full mom mode—making breakfast, the shoe hunt (why is it always one shoe), prepping food, mediating arguments. The chaos is overwhelming.
8:30am: School drop-off. 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. I'm alone finally. I'm cutting clips, engaging with followers, planning content, pitching brands, checking analytics. People think content creation is simple. Nope. It's a entire operation.
I usually batch-create content on certain days. That means shooting multiple videos in a few hours. I'll change shirts between videos so it looks varied. Hot tip: Keep multiple tops nearby for fast swaps. My neighbors probably think I'm unhinged, talking to my camera in the yard.
3:00pm: Getting the kids. Back to parenting. But this is where it's complicated—frequently my biggest hits come from the chaos. A few days ago, my daughter had a full tantrum in Target because I couldn't afford a expensive toy. I recorded in the Target parking lot after about dealing with meltdowns as a single parent. It got millions of views.
Evening: All the evening things. I'm generally wiped out to film, but I'll queue up posts, answer messages, or outline content. Certain nights, after everyone's sleeping, I'll edit videos until midnight because a deadline is coming.
The truth? Balance doesn't exist. It's just organized chaos with some victories.
Income Breakdown: How I Really Earn Money
Alright, let's get into the finances because this is what you're wondering. Can you legitimately profit as a content creator? Absolutely. Is it straightforward? Not even close.
My first month, I made zero dollars. Second month? Also nothing. Month three, I got my first collaboration—$150 to share a meal kit service. I cried real tears. That $150 fed us.
Currently, years later, here's how I generate revenue:
Brand Deals: This is my primary income. I work with brands that my followers need—things that help, mom products, family items. I get paid anywhere from five hundred to five thousand dollars per collaboration, depending on the scope. This past month, I did 4 sponsored posts and made eight grand.
TikTok Fund: TikTok's creator fund pays very little—two to four hundred per month for huge view counts. AdSense is more lucrative. I make about $1.5K monthly from YouTube, but that took two years to build up.
Affiliate Links: I promote products to things I own—anything from my favorite coffee maker to the bunk beds in their room. If someone clicks and buys, I get a cut. This brings in about $800-$1200/month.
Online Products: I created a single mom budget planner and a meal planning ebook. They sell for fifteen dollars, and I sell dozens per month. That's another $1-1.5K.
Coaching/Consulting: Aspiring influencers pay me to mentor them. I offer 1:1 sessions for two hundred per hour. I do about 5-10 a month.
Combined monthly revenue: On average, I'm making $10-15K per month now. Some months I make more, some are tougher. It's unpredictable, which is stressful when you're solo. But it's 3x what I made at my old job, and I'm there for them.
The Dark Side Nobody Talks About
From the outside it's great until you're sobbing alone because a post got no views, or managing nasty DMs from internet trolls.
The haters are brutal. I've been accused of being a bad mother, told I'm problematic, called a liar about being a single mom. Someone once commented, "Maybe that's why he left." That one destroyed me.
The algorithm changes constantly. Certain periods you're getting huge numbers. Next month, you're struggling for views. Your income is unstable. You're always creating, always working, afraid to pause, you'll lose momentum.
The mom guilt is intense to the extreme. Each post, I wonder: Is this too much? Am I protecting my kids' privacy? Will they resent this when they're teenagers? I have firm rules—limited face shots, nothing too personal, no embarrassing content. But the line is hard to see.
The burnout hits hard. Some weeks when I am empty. When I'm an explainer exhausted, talked out, and at my limit. But life doesn't stop. So I show up anyway.
The Wins
But here's the thing—despite everything, this journey has blessed me with things I never imagined.
Money security for once in my life. I'm not rich, but I cleared $18K. I have an safety net. We took a vacation last summer—Disney, which I never thought possible two years ago. I don't dread checking my balance anymore.
Flexibility that's priceless. When my child had a fever last month, I didn't have to use PTO or panic. I worked from the pediatrician's waiting room. When there's a school event, I attend. I'm present in my kids' lives in ways I wasn't with a regular job.
Community that saved me. The fellow creators I've befriended, especially other moms, have become true friends. We connect, help each other, support each other. My followers have become this incredible cheerleading squad. They support me, encourage me through rough patches, and make me feel seen.
My own identity. After years, I have my own thing. I'm not just an ex or somebody's mother. I'm a content creator. A businesswoman. A person who hustled.
My Best Tips
If you're a solo parent curious about this, here's what I wish someone had told me:
Don't wait. Your first videos will be trash. Mine did. Everyone starts there. You improve over time, not by procrastinating.
Be authentic, not perfect. People can sense inauthenticity. Share your honest life—the chaos. That's what works.
Guard their privacy. Establish boundaries. Have standards. Their privacy is everything. I protect their names, minimize face content, and protect their stories.
Don't rely on one thing. Spread it out or one revenue source. The algorithm is fickle. Multiple income streams = stability.
Film multiple videos. When you have time alone, film multiple videos. Tomorrow you will thank yourself when you're too exhausted to create.
Engage with your audience. Reply to comments. Check messages. Be real with them. Your community is your foundation.
Track metrics. Some content isn't worth it. If something requires tons of time and tanks while a different post takes very little time and gets 200,000 views, adjust your strategy.
Don't forget yourself. You matter too. Rest. Create limits. Your health matters more than views.
This takes time. This takes time. It took me half a year to make meaningful money. Year one, I made maybe $15,000 total. Year 2, $80,000. Now, I'm hitting six figures. It's a process.
Know your why. On bad days—and there will be many—remember why you're doing this. For me, it's financial freedom, being present, and validating that I'm stronger than I knew.
Being Real With You
Here's the deal, I'm being honest. Being a single mom creator is hard. Like, really freaking hard. You're managing a business while being the single caregiver of kids who need everything.
Certain days I second-guess this. Days when the nasty comments sting. Days when I'm completely spent and questioning if I should get a regular job with stability.
But and then my daughter says she loves that I'm home. Or I see financial progress. Or I read a message from a follower saying my content helped her leave an unhealthy relationship. And I know it's worth it.
My Future Plans
A few years back, I was lost and broke how to survive. Now, I'm a professional creator making more than I imagined in corporate America, and I'm there for my kids.
My goals moving forward? Hit 500K by December. Start a podcast for solo parents. Write a book eventually. Continue building this business that changed my life.
Content creation gave me a path forward when I was desperate. It gave me a way to support my kids, be available, and accomplish something incredible. It's not what I planned, but it's perfect.
To every solo parent wondering if you can do this: You can. It won't be easy. You'll consider quitting. But you're managing the toughest gig—raising humans alone. You're stronger than you think.
Jump in messy. Stay consistent. Prioritize yourself. And always remember, you're beyond survival mode—you're building an empire.
BRB, I need to go create content about homework I forgot about and surprise!. Because that's this life—content from the mess, one video at a time.
Honestly. Being a single mom creator? It's worth every struggle. Even when there's probably crumbs in my keyboard. No regrets, chaos and all.