Here's the tea, motherhood is no joke. But here's the thing? Attempting to hustle for money while handling toddlers and their chaos.
I started my side hustle journey about several years ago when I discovered that my Target runs were becoming problematic. I needed some independent income.
The Virtual Assistant Life
So, I kicked things off was doing VA work. And real talk? It was chef's kiss. 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.
Initially I was doing basic stuff like organizing inboxes, posting on social media, and basic admin work. Not rocket science. I charged about $20/hour, which seemed low but when you're just starting, you gotta begin at the bottom.
What cracked me up? There I was on a video meeting looking like I had my life together from the waist up—looking corporate—while sporting my rattiest leggings. Peak mom life.
Selling on Etsy
After a year, I decided to try the selling on Etsy. Every mom I knew seemed to be on Etsy, so I was like "why not get in on this?"
I created crafting downloadable organizers and home decor prints. What's great about digital products? Design it once, and it can make money while you sleep. Actually, I've made sales at 3am while I was sleeping.
That initial sale? I actually yelled. My husband thought the house was on fire. But no—I was just, cheering about my first five bucks. Don't judge me.
The Content Creation Grind
Next I ventured into writing and making content. This one is not for instant gratification seekers, let me tell you.
I started a family lifestyle blog where I wrote about my parenting journey—the good, the bad, and the ugly. None of that Pinterest-perfect life. Simply the actual truth about the time my kid decorated the walls with Nutella.
Getting readers was slow. The first few months, I was basically creating content for crickets. But I stayed consistent, and eventually, things gained momentum.
Now? I generate revenue through affiliate links, working with brands, and display ads. This past month I brought in over two thousand dollars from my website. Wild, right?
Managing Social Media
When I became good with social media for my own stuff, small companies started reaching out if I could help them.
Real talk? Many companies are terrible with social media. They recognize they should be posting, but they can't keep up.
This is my moment. I handle social media for several small companies—various small businesses. I create content, plan their posting schedule, engage with followers, and analyze the metrics.
I bill between $500-$1500/month per business, depending on the scope of work. Best part? I handle this from my iPhone.
Freelance Writing Life
For those who can string sentences together, writing gigs is a goldmine. This isn't literary fiction—I mean content writing for businesses.
Companies always need writers. My assignments have included everything from literally everything under the sun. You don't need to be an expert, you just need to know how to Google effectively.
I typically bill fifty to one hundred fifty bucks per piece, depending on the topic and length. Some months I'll create a dozen articles and make a couple thousand dollars.
What's hilarious: I'm the same person who barely passed English class. Currently I'm making money from copyright. The irony.
Virtual Tutoring
After lockdown started, tutoring went digital. I was a teacher before kids, so this was an obvious choice.
I joined several tutoring platforms. You make your own schedule, which is essential when you have children who keep you guessing.
I mainly help with K-5 subjects. Income ranges from fifteen to thirty bucks per hour depending on the platform.
The funny thing? Every now and then my children will interrupt mid-session. I've literally had to be professional while chaos erupted behind me. The parents on the other end are totally cool about it because they understand mom life.
Reselling and Flipping
So, this side gig wasn't planned. I was decluttering my kids' room and put some things on Mercari.
Things sold immediately. Lightbulb moment: there's a market for everything.
Currently I shop at anywhere with deals, searching for good brands. I'll find something for three bucks and flip it for thirty.
This takes effort? Absolutely. I'm photographing items, writing descriptions, shipping packages. But it's oddly satisfying about finding a gem at a yard sale and earning from it.
Plus: the kids think it's neat when I score cool vintage stuff. Recently I grabbed a vintage toy that my son absolutely loved. Flipped it for forty-five bucks. Mom for the win.
Real Talk Time
Let me keep it real: side hustles take work. They're called hustles for a reason.
Certain days when I'm surviving on caffeine and spite, doubting everything. I'm up at 5am hustling before the chaos starts, then all day mom-ing, then back at it after everyone's in bed.
But here's the thing? These are my earnings. I can spend it guilt-free to buy the fancy coffee. I'm supporting the family budget. My kids are learning that women can hustle.
Advice for New Mom Hustlers
If you're thinking about a mom hustle, here's my advice:
Don't go all in immediately. Don't try to start five businesses. Focus on one and become proficient before taking on more.
Use the time you have. If naptime is your only free time, that's fine. Two hours of focused work is a great beginning.
Comparison is the thief of joy to Instagram moms. The successful ones you see? They've been at it for years and has support. Focus on your own journey.
Don't be afraid to invest, but wisely. You don't need expensive courses. Don't waste $5,000 on a coaching program until you've proven the concept.
Batch your work. This changed everything. Dedicate certain times for certain work. Monday might be content creation day. Wednesday might be admin and emails.
Let's Talk Mom Guilt
Let me be honest—guilt is part of this. Sometimes when I'm working and my kid wants attention, and I hate it.
But I think about that I'm demonstrating to them that hard work matters. I'm proving to them that moms can have businesses.
Also? Having my own income has improved my mental health. I'm more satisfied, which helps me be better.
The Numbers
My actual income? Most months, combining everything, I pull in $3K-5K. Some months are better, some are slower.
Is this millionaire money? Not really. But we've used it to pay for vacations, home improvements, and that emergency vet bill that would've stressed us out. And it's building my skills and experience that could turn into something bigger.
Wrapping This Up
Look, doing this mom hustle thing is hard. It's not a magic formula. A lot of days I'm improvising everything, fueled by espresso and stubbornness, and hoping for the best.
But I wouldn't change it. Every dollar earned is evidence read more of my capability. It's proof that I'm not just someone's mother.
For anyone contemplating starting a side hustle? Take the leap. Don't wait for perfect. You in six months will be grateful.
Keep in mind: You aren't only enduring—you're hustling. Even if there's likely Goldfish crackers stuck to your laptop.
Not even kidding. The whole thing is the life, complete with all the chaos.
Surviving to Thriving: My Journey as a Single Mom
Here's the truth—single motherhood was never the plan. I also didn't plan on building a creator business. But fast forward to now, three years later, supporting my family by sharing my life online while handling everything by myself. And not gonna lie? It's been life-changing in every way of my life.
Rock Bottom: When Everything Imploded
It was a few years ago when my marriage ended. I will never forget sitting in my half-empty apartment (I kept the kids' stuff, he took everything else), unable to sleep at 2am while my kids were passed out. I had eight hundred forty-seven dollars in my checking account, little people counting on me, and a salary that was a joke. The stress was unbearable, y'all.
I'd been mindlessly scrolling to escape reality—because that's self-care at 2am, right? when everything is chaos, right?—when I found this divorced mom talking about how she made six figures through posting online. I remember thinking, "She's lying or got lucky."
But being broke makes you bold. Or both. Sometimes both.
I downloaded the TikTok studio app the next morning. My first video? Me, no makeup, messy bun, sharing how I'd just put my last twelve dollars on a cheap food for my kids' lunch boxes. I shared it and felt sick. Who wants to watch my mess?
Apparently, thousands of people.
That video got 47K views. Nearly fifty thousand people watched me breakdown over processed meat. The comments section became this safe space—women in similar situations, other people struggling, all saying "same." That was my turning point. People didn't want perfection. They wanted authentic.
My Brand Evolution: The Hot Mess Single Mom Brand
Here's the secret about content creation: niche is crucial. And my niche? I stumbled into it. I became the real one.
I started sharing the stuff no one shows. Like how I lived in one outfit because executive dysfunction is real. Or when I fed my kids cereal for dinner all week and called it "creative meal planning." Or that moment when my six-year-old asked why daddy doesn't live here anymore, and I had to have big conversations to a kid who believes in magic.
My content wasn't pretty. My lighting was terrible. I filmed on a phone with a broken screen. But it was real, and evidently, that's what hit.
In just two months, I hit 10,000 followers. 90 days in, fifty thousand. By month six, I'd crossed a hundred thousand. Each milestone felt impossible. Actual humans who wanted to listen to me. Me—a struggling single mom who had to Google "what is a content creator" months before.
The Daily Grind: Balancing Content and Chaos
Here's what it actually looks like of my typical day, because this life is nothing like those perfect "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 forget about, and I start recording. Sometimes it's a GRWM talking about single mom finances. Sometimes it's me meal prepping while talking about custody stuff. The lighting is natural and terrible.
7:00am: Kids are awake. Content creation goes on hold. Now I'm in mommy mode—feeding humans, locating lost items (it's always one shoe), packing lunches, referee duties. The chaos is intense.
8:30am: Carpool line. I'm that mom in the carpool line filming TikToks at red lights. Not proud of this, but bills don't care.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my productive time. Peace and quiet. I'm cutting clips, replying to DMs, thinking of ideas, reaching out to brands, reviewing performance. People think content creation is just posting videos. Nope. It's a real job.
I usually create multiple videos on Mondays and Wednesdays. That means filming 10-15 videos in one session. I'll switch outfits so it appears to be different times. Hot tip: Keep multiple tops nearby for quick changes. My neighbors must think I'm insane, talking to my camera in the backyard.
3:00pm: Picking them up. Parent time. But here's the thing—often my viral videos come from these after-school moments. Recently, my daughter had a full tantrum in Target because I wouldn't buy a forty dollar toy. I made content in the parking lot later about managing big emotions as a lone parent. It got millions of views.
Evening: All the evening things. I'm generally wiped out to film, but I'll plan posts, respond to DMs, or outline content. Often, after everyone's sleeping, I'll work late because a deadline is coming.
The truth? Balance doesn't exist. It's just managed chaos with some victories.
Income Breakdown: How I Actually Make a Living
Okay, let's get into the finances because this is what everyone wants to know. Can you really earn income as a influencer? Absolutely. Is it simple? Not even close.
My first month, I made $0. Second month? Still nothing. Third month, I got my first collaboration—$150 to feature a food subscription. I actually cried. That hundred fifty dollars paid for groceries.
Fast forward, years later, here's how I earn income:
Brand Partnerships: This is my largest income stream. I work with brands that align with my audience—practical items, parenting tools, kids' stuff. I get paid anywhere from five hundred to five thousand dollars per deal, depending on what they need. Last month, I did four partnerships and made $8K.
TikTok Fund: Creator fund pays pennies—two to four hundred per month for millions of views. AdSense is more lucrative. I make about $1,500/month from YouTube, but that took forever.
Affiliate Income: I share links to things I own—ranging from my beloved coffee maker to the kids' beds. If they buy using my link, I get a commission. This brings in about $800-1,200 monthly.
Digital Products: I created a single mom budget planner and a meal planning ebook. $15 apiece, and I sell dozens per month. That's another over a thousand dollars.
Coaching/Consulting: Other aspiring creators pay me to teach them the ropes. I offer consulting calls for $200 hourly. I do about 5-10 of these monthly.
Total monthly income: Most months, I'm making $10,000-15,000 per month these days. It varies, some are less. It's unpredictable, which is scary when you're the only income source. But it's three times what I made at my corporate job, and I'm there for them.
The Hard Parts Nobody Mentions
Content creation sounds glamorous until you're crying in your car because a video didn't perform, or dealing with hate comments from strangers who think they know your life.
The haters are brutal. I've been called a bad mom, told I'm problematic, told I'm fake about being a single mom. One person said, "Maybe your husband left because you're annoying." That one stuck with me.
The algorithm is unpredictable. Certain periods you're getting huge numbers. The next, you're barely hitting 1K. Your income varies wildly. You're always on, always "on", nervous about slowing down, you'll lose momentum.
The mom guilt is worse exponentially. Everything I share, I wonder: Am I oversharing? Are my kids safe? Will they hate me for this when they're older? I have firm rules—protected identities, no sharing their private stuff, protecting their dignity. But the line is fuzzy.
The exhaustion is real. Certain periods when I have nothing. When I'm exhausted, over it, and just done. But bills don't care about burnout. So I do it anyway.
The Beautiful Parts
But listen—despite everything, this journey has created things I never imagined.
Money security for the first time in my life. I'm not a millionaire, but I eliminated my debt. I have an savings. We took a actual vacation last summer—Disney World, which I never thought possible not long ago. I don't check my bank account with anxiety anymore.
Time freedom that's priceless. When my son got sick last month, I didn't have to ask permission or stress about losing pay. I handled business at urgent care. When there's a school thing, I can go. I'm in their lives in ways I couldn't manage with a normal job.
Community that saved me. The fellow creators I've met, especially single moms, have become real friends. We vent, share strategies, support each other. My followers have become this family. They celebrate my wins, lift me up, and validate me.
Something that's mine. For the first time since having kids, I have an identity. I'm not just an ex or somebody's mother. I'm a content creator. A content creator. A person who hustled.
What I Wish I Knew
If you're a solo parent wanting to start, here's what I'd tell you:
Start before you're ready. Your first videos will be awful. Mine did. That's okay. You get better, not by waiting.
Authenticity wins. People can tell when you're fake. Share your honest life—the messy, imperfect, chaotic reality. That's what works.
Prioritize their privacy. Set boundaries early. Know your limits. Their privacy is non-negotiable. I protect their names, limit face shots, and respect their dignity.
Don't rely on one thing. Diversify or one income stream. The algorithm is fickle. Multiple income streams = stability.
Batch your content. When you have available time, create multiple pieces. Future you will thank yourself when you're unable to film.
Interact. Reply to comments. Check messages. Create connections. Your community is what matters.
Track your time and ROI. Not all content is worth creating. If something takes forever and tanks while something else takes no time and gets massive views, shift focus.
Prioritize yourself. Self-care isn't selfish. Unplug. Guard your energy. Your wellbeing matters most.
Give it time. This takes time. It took me months to make real income. Year one, I made $15K total. Year 2, $80,000. Year 3, I'm on track for six figures. It's a journey.
Know your why. On bad days—and there are many—remember why you're doing this. For me, it's money, time with my children, and demonstrating that I'm stronger than I knew.
The Honest Truth
Listen, I'm not going to sugarcoat this. This journey is difficult. Incredibly hard. You're managing a business while being the sole caretaker of kids who need everything.
There are days I second-guess this. Days when the nasty comments affect me. Days when I'm burnt out and asking myself if I should just get a "normal" job with consistent income.
But then suddenly my daughter mentions she's happy I'm here. Or I see my bank account actually has money in it. Or I get a DM from a follower saying my content changed her life. And I understand the impact.
The Future
A few years back, I was broke, scared, and had no idea what to do. Today, I'm a full-time content creator making more money than I ever did in corporate America, and I'm present for everything.
My goals for the future? Reach 500K by December. Start a podcast for single moms. Consider writing a book. Keep building this business that gives me freedom, flexibility, and financial stability.
Content creation gave me a second chance when I needed it most. It gave me a way to provide for my family, be available, and accomplish something incredible. It's not what I planned, but it's exactly where I needed to be.
To all the single moms thinking about starting: You absolutely can. It will be hard. You'll consider quitting. But you're already doing the most difficult thing—raising humans alone. You're powerful.
Begin messy. Stay the course. Guard your peace. And remember, you're beyond survival mode—you're building something incredible.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go film a TikTok about another last-minute project and nobody told me until now. Because that's how it goes—chaos becomes content, one video at a time.
Honestly. Being a single mom creator? It's everything. Even though there's probably crumbs in my keyboard. That's the dream, imperfectly perfect.