Real talk, motherhood is not for the weak. But plot twist? Attempting to hustle for money while dealing with toddlers and their chaos.
I started my side hustle journey about several years ago when I figured out that my Target runs were getting out of hand. I had to find cash that was actually mine.
Being a VA
Right so, my first gig was doing VA work. And honestly? It was perfect. I was able to get stuff done when the house was finally peaceful, and the only requirement was my laptop and decent wifi.
Initially I was doing basic stuff like organizing inboxes, scheduling social media posts, and entering data. Pretty straightforward. My rate was about $15-20 per hour, which felt cheap but when you don't know what you're doing yet, you gotta build up your portfolio.
What cracked me up? I'd be on a Zoom call looking completely put together from the chest up—blazer, makeup, the works—while wearing my rattiest leggings. Living my best life.
My Etsy Journey
Once I got comfortable, I ventured into the handmade marketplace scene. Everyone and their mother seemed to sell stuff on Etsy, so I thought "why not join the party?"
I began designing downloadable organizers and wall art. The beauty of printables? Make it one time, and it can sell forever. Genuinely, I've gotten orders at 3am while I was sleeping.
The first time someone bought something? I freaked out completely. He came running thinking I'd injured myself. Not even close—just me, doing a happy dance for my first five bucks. Don't judge me.
Content Creator Life
After that I discovered writing and making content. This one is a marathon not a sprint, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it.
I created a family lifestyle blog where I shared real mom life—the messy truth. None of that Pinterest-perfect life. Simply honest stories about finding mystery stains on everything I own.
Getting readers was like watching paint dry. The first few months, it was basically talking to myself. But I persisted, and slowly but surely, things took off.
Currently? I earn income through affiliate links, working with brands, and display ads. Recently I generated over two thousand dollars from my website. Mind-blowing, right?
SMM Side Hustle
Once I got decent at running my own socials, brands started inquiring if I could do the same for them.
Here's the thing? A lot of local businesses suck at social media. They know they have to be on it, but they're clueless about the algorithm.
This is my moment. I now manage social media for a handful of clients—different types of businesses. I make posts, queue up posts, handle community management, and track analytics.
I charge between five hundred to a thousand dollars per month per business, depending on the scope of work. Best part? I do this work from my phone.
Writing for Money
For those who can string sentences together, writing gigs is incredibly lucrative. I'm not talking literary fiction—I'm talking about business content.
Businesses everywhere always need writers. I've written everything from dental hygiene to copyright. Google is your best friend, you just need to know how to Google effectively.
I typically make $0.10-0.50 per word, depending on length and complexity. On good months I'll create fifteen articles and earn $1-2K.
Plot twist: I'm the same person who hated writing papers. Currently I'm getting paid for it. Life is weird.
The Online Tutoring Thing
When COVID hit, everyone needed online help. I was a teacher before kids, so this was an obvious choice.
I registered on various tutoring services. You choose when you work, which is absolutely necessary when you have tiny humans who throw curveballs daily.
I focus on elementary reading and math. Income ranges from fifteen to thirty bucks per hour depending on the company.
Here's what's weird? Occasionally my own kids will interrupt mid-session. I've had to educate someone's child while mine had a meltdown. My clients are very sympathetic because they're parents too.
The Reselling Game
Here me out, this hustle happened accidentally. I was decluttering my kids' things and tried selling some outfits on copyright.
Stuff sold out instantly. I suddenly understood: people will buy anything.
These days I frequent secondhand stores and sales, hunting for name brands. I'll find something for three bucks and flip it for thirty.
This takes effort? Not gonna lie. You're constantly listing and shipping. But I find it rewarding about discovering a diamond in the rough at a yard sale and turning a profit.
Bonus: my kids are impressed when I discover weird treasures. Just last week I grabbed a retro toy that my son freaked out about. Made $45 on it. Victory for mom.
Real Talk Time
Truth bomb incoming: side hustles take work. The word 'hustle' is there for a reason.
Certain days when I'm exhausted, asking myself what I'm doing. I'm grinding at dawn getting stuff done while it's quiet, then doing all the mom stuff, then back to work after the kids are asleep.
But here's the thing? This income is mine. I can spend it guilt-free to get the good coffee. I'm contributing to my family's finances. I'm showing my kids that moms can do anything.
Tips if You're Starting Out
If you want to start a mom hustle, here are my tips:
Start small. Avoid trying to juggle ten things. Pick one thing and get good at it before starting something else.
Use the time you have. If you only have evenings, that's totally valid. Two hours of focused work is valuable.
Don't compare yourself to what you see online. Those people with massive success? She's been grinding forever and has resources you don't see. Stay in your lane.
Don't be afraid to invest, but carefully. Free information exists. Don't spend thousands on courses until you've validated your idea.
Work in batches. This saved my sanity. Set aside days for specific hustles. Use Monday for making stuff day. Use Wednesday for admin and emails.
The Mom Guilt is Real
I have to be real with you—mom guilt is a thing. There are times when I'm focused on work while my kids need me, and I feel terrible.
However I remember that I'm modeling for them how to hustle. I'm showing my daughter that women can be mothers and entrepreneurs.
Additionally? Financial independence has been good for me. I'm more fulfilled, which helps me be better.
The Numbers
So what do I actually make? Generally, from all my side gigs, I bring in three to five thousand monthly. Certain months are higher, others are slower.
Is it life-changing money? Not exactly. But it's paid for family trips and unexpected expenses that would've stressed us out. Plus it's creating opportunities and skills that could evolve into something huge.
Final Thoughts
Listen, combining motherhood and entrepreneurship is hard. There's no such thing as a perfect balance. Often I'm winging it, fueled by espresso and stubbornness, and praying it all works out.
But I wouldn't change it. Every single dollar I earn is proof that I can do hard things. It's proof that I'm not just someone's mother.
If you're thinking about launching a mom business? Start now. Start messy. You in six months will thank you.
Always remember: You're not just enduring—you're building something. Even if there's likely Goldfish crackers stuck to your laptop.
Seriously. This mom hustle life is the life, chaos and all.
Surviving to Thriving: My Journey as a Single Mom
Here's the truth—single motherhood was never the plan. Nor was becoming a content creator. But here we are, three years into this wild journey, supporting my family by creating content while parenting alone. And real talk? It's been scary AF but incredible of my life.
The Starting Point: When Everything Imploded
It was three years ago when my relationship fell apart. I can still picture sitting in my mostly empty place (I kept the kids' stuff, he took everything else), 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 paycheck that wasn't enough. The panic was real, y'all.
I'd been scrolling TikTok to escape reality—because that's the move? when everything is chaos, right?—when I came across this woman talking about how she changed her life through posting online. I remember thinking, "No way that's legit."
But rock bottom gives you courage. Maybe both. Usually both.
I downloaded the TikTok studio app the next morning. My first video? No filter, no makeup, pure chaos, explaining how I'd just spent my last $12 on a dinosaur nuggets and snacks for my kids' school lunches. I uploaded it and wanted to delete it. Who wants to watch my broke reality?
Spoiler alert, a lot of people.
That video got forty-seven thousand views. 47,000 people watched me breakdown over frozen nuggets. The comments section turned into this incredible community—women in similar situations, other people struggling, all saying "this is my life." That was my epiphany. People didn't want perfection. They wanted authentic.
Finding My Niche: The Real Mom Life Brand
Here's the secret about content creation: your niche matters. And my niche? I stumbled into it. I became the unfiltered single mom.
I started sharing the stuff people hide. Like how I wore the same leggings all week because laundry felt impossible. Or the time I gave them breakfast for dinner all week and called it "survival mode." Or that moment when my six-year-old asked why we don't live with dad, and I had to talk about complex things to a kid who is six years old.
My content wasn't polished. My lighting was trash. I filmed on a busted phone. But it was authentic, and apparently, that's what worked.
In just two months, I hit 10,000 followers. Three months later, 50,000. By six months, I'd crossed a hundred thousand. Each milestone felt surreal. Actual humans who wanted to hear what I had to say. Plain old me—a broke single mom who had to Google "what is a content creator" six months earlier.
The Actual Schedule: Managing It All
Let me paint you a picture of my typical day, because content creation as a single mom is nothing like those curated "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm screams. I do not want to move, but this is my hustle hours. I make coffee that I'll forget about, and I start filming. Sometimes it's a get-ready-with-me sharing about financial reality. Sometimes it's me making food while talking about dealing with my ex. The lighting is whatever I can get.
7:00am: Kids are awake. Content creation goes on hold. Now I'm in full mom mode—cooking eggs, the shoe hunt (where do they go), throwing food in bags, mediating arguments. The chaos is real.
8:30am: Getting them to school. I'm that mom filming at red lights when stopped. Don't judge me, but content waits for no one.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my work block. Peace and quiet. I'm in editing mode, being social, ideating, reaching out to brands, reviewing performance. Folks imagine content creation is just posting videos. It's not. It's a entire operation.
I usually film in batches on Monday and Wednesday. That means creating 10-15 pieces in one sitting. I'll change clothes so it seems like separate days. Pro tip: Keep several shirts ready for easy transitions. My neighbors probably think I'm unhinged, filming myself talking to my phone in the yard.
3:00pm: Pickup time. Mom mode activated. But here's where it gets tricky—sometimes my biggest hits come from real life. Last week, my daughter had a complete meltdown in Target because I said no to a forty dollar toy. I recorded in the parking lot afterward about dealing with meltdowns as a solo parent. It got millions of views.
Evening: Dinner, homework, bath time, bedtime routines. I'm generally wiped out to film, but I'll queue up posts, check DMs, or prep for tomorrow. Often, after bedtime, I'll edit videos until midnight because a client needs content.
The truth? Balance is a myth. It's just controlled chaos with some victories.
The Money Talk: How I Generate Income
Look, let's talk numbers because this is what people ask about. Can you actually make money as a content creator? Absolutely. Is it straightforward? Nope.
My first month, I made zilch. Month two? $0. Month three, I got my first paid partnership—$150 to feature a meal box. I literally cried. That one-fifty bought groceries for two weeks.
Fast forward, three years later, here's how I earn income:
Sponsored Content: This is my biggest income source. I work with brands that make sense—practical items, helpful services, children's products. I ask for anywhere from $500 to $5,000 per campaign, depending on the scope. Just last month, I did four brand deals and made eight thousand dollars.
Ad Money: Creator fund pays pennies—$200-$400 per month for huge view counts. YouTube ad revenue is actually decent. I make about $1.5K monthly from YouTube, but that took two years to build up.
Affiliate Income: I promote products to items I love—anything from my favorite coffee maker to the bunk beds in their room. If anyone buys, I get a commission. This brings in about $800-1,200 monthly.
Online Products: I created a financial planner and a meal planning ebook. $15 apiece, and I sell fifty to a hundred per month. That's another $1,000-1,500.
Teaching Others: Other aspiring creators pay me to guide them. I offer private coaching for two hundred dollars. I do about 5-10 each month.
Total monthly income: Generally, I'm making $10-15K per month now. Certain months are better, others are slower. It's up and down, which is terrifying when you're solo. But it's triple what I made at my previous job, and I'm there for them.
The Struggles Nobody Mentions
Content creation sounds glamorous until you're crying in your car because a video flopped, or managing cruel messages from internet trolls.
The trolls are vicious. I've been mom-shamed, told I'm problematic, called a liar about being a divorced parent. Someone once commented, "I'd leave too." That one destroyed me.
The platform changes. Certain periods you're getting insane views. Next month, you're struggling for views. Your income is unstable. You're always creating, always "on", afraid to pause, you'll lose momentum.
The mom guilt is intense exponentially. Everything I share, I wonder: Is this too much? Am I protecting my kids' privacy? Will they regret this when they're adults? I have non-negotiables—no faces of my kids without permission, keeping their stories private, nothing humiliating. But the line is hard to see.
The burnout is real. Some weeks when I don't want to film anything. When I'm exhausted, socially drained, and completely finished. But bills don't care about burnout. So I push through.
The Beautiful Parts
But here's the thing—despite everything, this journey has brought me things I never expected.
Financial stability for the first time in my life. I'm a supporting article not rich, but I eliminated my debt. I have an emergency fund. We took a real vacation last summer—Disney, which I never thought possible two years ago. I don't check my bank account with anxiety anymore.
Schedule freedom that's priceless. When my boy was sick last month, I didn't have to use PTO or panic. I worked anywhere. When there's a school event, I can go. I'm available in ways I couldn't be with a normal job.
My people that saved me. The creator friends I've befriended, especially solo parents, have become my people. We talk, exchange tips, lift each other up. My followers have become this family. They cheer for me, encourage me through rough patches, and make me feel seen.
My own identity. For the first time since having kids, I have something for me. I'm not just someone's ex-wife or only a parent. I'm a entrepreneur. A creator. A person who hustled.
My Best Tips
If you're a solo parent thinking about this, here's what I wish someone had told me:
Just start. Your first videos will be awful. Mine did. It's fine. You learn by doing, not by waiting.
Be authentic, not perfect. People can tell when you're fake. Share your honest life—the chaos. That's the magic.
Keep them safe. Set boundaries early. Have standards. Their privacy is the priority. I protect their names, minimize face content, and keep private things private.
Multiple revenue sources. Don't rely on just one platform or one revenue source. The algorithm is unpredictable. Multiple streams = safety.
Batch your content. When you have free time, film multiple videos. Tomorrow you will appreciate it when you're unable to film.
Build community. Respond to comments. Check messages. Build real relationships. Your community is everything.
Analyze performance. Some content isn't worth it. If something requires tons of time and tanks while a different post takes very little time and gets massive views, change tactics.
Don't forget yourself. You can't pour from an empty cup. Rest. Protect your peace. Your health matters more than anything.
Stay patient. This isn't a get-rich-quick scheme. It took me eight months to make real income. My first year, I made maybe $15,000 total. The second year, eighty grand. Year 3, I'm projected for $100K+. It's a process.
Stay connected to your purpose. On bad days—and there are many—recall your purpose. For me, it's financial freedom, flexibility with my kids, and demonstrating that I'm stronger than I knew.
Being Real With You
Listen, I'm telling the truth. This life is tough. Like, really freaking hard. You're running a whole business while being the sole caretaker of demanding little people.
Many days I doubt myself. Days when the nasty comments sting. Days when I'm completely spent and questioning if I should go back to corporate with stability.
But and then my daughter says she appreciates this. Or I check my balance and see money. Or I receive a comment from a follower saying my content helped her leave an unhealthy relationship. And I know it's worth it.
Where I'm Going From Here
A few years back, I was lost and broke how to make it work. Now, I'm a content creator making triple what I earned in traditional work, and I'm home when my kids get off the school bus.
My goals going forward? Reach 500K by year-end. Begin podcasting for single moms. Write a book eventually. 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, show up, and create something meaningful. It's not what I planned, but it's exactly where I needed to be.
To any single parent wondering if you can do this: You absolutely can. It won't be easy. You'll doubt yourself. But you're already doing the toughest gig—doing this alone. You're stronger than you think.
Begin messy. Stay consistent. Protect your peace. And remember, you're more than just surviving—you're building something incredible.
Time to go, I need to go create content about why my kid's school project is due tomorrow and I'm just now hearing about it. Because that's how it goes—turning chaos into content, video by video.
Honestly. Being a single mom creator? It's worth it. Even though there's definitely crumbs stuck to my laptop right now. That's the dream, mess included.