Let me tell you, motherhood is literally insane. But here's the thing? Working to hustle for money while managing kids, laundry, and approximately 47 snack requests per day.
I entered the side gig world about a few years back when I figured out that my Target runs were reaching dangerous levels. I needed my own money.
Being a VA
Here's what happened, I kicked things off was becoming a virtual assistant. And I'll be real? It was exactly what I needed. I could work during naptime, and all I needed was a computer and internet.
I began by simple tasks like handling emails, managing social content, and data entry. Pretty straightforward. I started at about $20/hour, which wasn't much but for someone with zero experience, you gotta begin at the bottom.
The funniest part? I'd be on a Zoom call looking like a real businesswoman from the chest up—business casual vibes—while rocking pants I'd owned since 2015. Peak mom life.
The Etsy Shop Adventure
After a year, I wanted to explore the selling on Etsy. Every mom I knew seemed to have an Etsy shop, so I thought "why not start one too?"
I began designing digital planners and digital art prints. The thing about selling digital stuff? Make it one time, and it can make money while you sleep. Actually, I've earned money at times when I didn't even know.
That initial sale? I actually yelled. My partner was like I'd injured myself. Negative—I was just, celebrating my first five bucks. Judge me if you want.
The Content Creation Grind
Then I ventured into blogging and content creation. This venture is not for instant gratification seekers, real talk.
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.
Building traffic was a test of patience. At the beginning, I was essentially talking to myself. But I kept at it, and slowly but surely, things started clicking.
At this point? I generate revenue through affiliate links, working with brands, and ad revenue. This past month I brought in over two grand from my blog alone. Crazy, right?
Managing Social Media
When I became good with my own content, other businesses started asking if I could run their social media.
Real talk? Tons of businesses don't understand social media. They realize they should be posting, but they're clueless about the algorithm.
I swoop in. I oversee social media for a handful of clients—various small businesses. I make posts, plan their posting schedule, interact with their audience, and monitor performance.
I bill between five hundred to fifteen hundred monthly per account, depending on the complexity. The best thing? I handle this from my iPhone.
The Freelance Writing Hustle
If writing is your thing, writing gigs is incredibly lucrative. I'm not talking writing the next Great American Novel—I'm talking about content writing for businesses.
Websites and businesses always need writers. I've written everything from the most random topics. You just need to research, you just need to be good at research.
I typically make $50-150 per article, depending on length and complexity. When I'm hustling hard I'll crank out 10-15 articles and pull in one to two thousand extra.
Here's what's wild: I'm the same person who barely passed English class. Currently I'm making money from copyright. Life's funny like that.
Tutoring Online
After lockdown started, online tutoring exploded. I used to be a teacher, so this was perfect for me.
I joined various tutoring services. The scheduling is flexible, which is non-negotiable when you have kids with unpredictable schedules.
My sessions are usually basic subjects. Income ranges from fifteen to thirty bucks per hour depending on where you work.
The awkward part? Sometimes my children will photobomb my lessons mid-session. I've had to teach fractions while my toddler screamed about the wrong color cup. The families I work with are incredibly understanding because they're living the same life.
Reselling and Flipping
Here me out, this hustle happened accidentally. While organizing my kids' things and listed some clothes on copyright.
They sold instantly. Lightbulb moment: there's a market for everything.
At this point I visit anywhere with deals, searching for quality items. I'll find something for cheap and resell at a markup.
It's definitely work? Not gonna lie. It's a whole process. But there's something satisfying about discovering a diamond in the rough at the thrift store and making profit.
Plus: my kids are impressed when I bring home interesting finds. Just last week I discovered a retro toy that my son freaked out about. Got forty-five dollars for it. Victory for mom.
Real Talk Time
Real talk moment: side hustles take work. They're called hustles for a reason.
Certain days when I'm running on empty, asking myself what I'm doing. I wake up early being productive before the madness begins, then handling mom duties, then more hustle time after the kids are asleep.
But here's what matters? That money is MINE. I'm not asking anyone to buy the fancy coffee. I'm helping with my family's finances. My kids see that women can hustle.
Tips if You're Starting Out
If you want to start a side gig, this is what I've learned:
Begin with something manageable. Don't attempt to start five businesses. Choose one hustle and master it before expanding.
Honor your limits. If you only have evenings, that's perfectly acceptable. Two hours of focused work is more than enough to start.
Don't compare yourself to what you see online. Everyone you're comparing yourself to? She's been grinding forever and has support. Do your thing.
Spend money on education, but strategically. There are tons of free resources. Avoid dropping massive amounts on training until you've tested the waters.
Do similar tasks together. This is crucial. Use specific days for specific tasks. Make Monday writing day. Use Wednesday for admin and emails.
The Mom Guilt is Real
I'm not gonna lie—the mom guilt is real. There are times when I'm working and my kid wants attention, and I feel terrible.
Yet I remind myself that I'm modeling for them how to hustle. I'm demonstrating to my children that moms can have businesses.
Plus? Having my own income has improved my mental health. I'm more content, which helps me be better.
The Numbers
The real numbers? Most months, combining everything, I make between three and five grand. Some months are better, others are slower.
Is this getting-rich money? Nope. But it's paid for stuff that matters to us that would've caused financial strain. It's developing my career and experience that could become a full-time thing.
In Conclusion
Look, combining motherhood and entrepreneurship is challenging. It's not a secret sauce. Often I'm making it up as I go, surviving on coffee, and doing my best.
But I don't regret it. Every single penny made is a testament to my hustle. It's proof that I'm not just someone's mother.
If you're on the fence about starting a side hustle? Take the leap. Start before it's perfect. Your future self will thank you.
And remember: You're not merely enduring—you're hustling. Even if there's probably old cheerios in your workspace.
No cap. This is incredible, despite the chaos.
From Survival Mode to Content Creator: My Journey as a Single Mom
I'm gonna be honest—single motherhood was never the plan. I also didn't plan on turning into an influencer. But here we are, three years later, paying bills by being vulnerable on the internet while parenting alone. And I'll be real? It's been life-changing in every way of my life.
Rock Bottom: When Everything Came Crashing Down
It was 2022 when my divorce happened. I remember sitting in my new apartment (I kept the kids' stuff, he took everything else), scrolling mindlessly at 2am while my kids were passed out. I had barely $850 in my bank account, little people counting on me, and a salary that was a joke. The anxiety was crushing, y'all.
I'd been mindlessly scrolling to numb the pain—because that's what we do? in crisis mode, right?—when I found this solo parent discussing how she paid off $30,000 in debt through content creation. I remember thinking, "She's lying or got lucky."
But being broke makes you bold. Or stupid. Probably both.
I installed the TikTok app the next morning. My first video? Completely unpolished, explaining how I'd just blown my final $12 on a frozen nuggets and juice boxes for my kids' school lunches. I uploaded it and wanted to delete it. Who gives a damn about someone's train wreck of a life?
Spoiler alert, thousands of people.
That video got forty-seven thousand views. 47,000 people watched me almost lose it over frozen nuggets. The comments section became this incredible community—women in similar situations, other people struggling, all saying "this is my life." That was my aha moment. People didn't want filtered content. They wanted real.
Finding My Niche: The Real Mom Life Brand
Here's what they don't say about content creation: you need a niche. And my niche? I stumbled into it. I became the real one.
I started creating content about the stuff people hide. Like how I lived in one outfit because executive dysfunction is real. Or when I gave them breakfast for dinner all week and called it "survival mode." Or that moment when my child asked why we don't live with dad, and I had to explain adult stuff to a kid who believes in magic.
My content wasn't polished. My lighting was terrible. I filmed on a busted phone. But it was real, and evidently, that's what hit.
After sixty days, I hit ten thousand followers. Three months later, 50,000. By half a year, I'd crossed a hundred thousand. Each milestone felt impossible. Real accounts who wanted to listen to me. Plain old me—a barely surviving single mom who had to figure this out from zero months before.
A Day in the Life: Managing It All
Here's what it actually looks like of my typical day, because creating content solo is totally different from those perfect "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm goes off. I do absolutely not want to wake up, 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 sharing about money struggles. Sometimes it's me meal prepping while talking about custody stuff. The lighting is natural and terrible.
7:00am: Kids get up. Content creation stops. Now I'm in mommy mode—feeding humans, hunting for that one shoe (it's always one shoe), prepping food, referee duties. The chaos is real.
8:30am: School drop-off. I'm that mom creating content in traffic when stopped. I know, I know, but I gotta post.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my hustle time. I'm alone finally. I'm editing content, replying to DMs, planning content, pitching brands, reviewing performance. Everyone assumes content creation is just making TikToks. Wrong. It's a entire operation.
I usually batch content on certain days. That means filming 10-15 videos in a few hours. I'll change clothes so it appears to be different times. Pro tip: Keep several shirts ready for quick changes. My neighbors probably think I'm unhinged, recording myself alone in the driveway.
3:00pm: Pickup time. Back to parenting. But this is where it's complicated—frequently my viral videos come from the chaos. Last week, my daughter had a complete meltdown in Target because I said no to a forty dollar toy. I created a video in the car later about dealing with meltdowns as a single parent. It got 2.3M views.
Evening: The evening routine. I'm generally wiped out to make videos, but I'll schedule uploads, respond to DMs, or prep for tomorrow. Often, after everyone's sleeping, I'll edit for hours because a brand deadline is looming.
The truth? Balance doesn't exist. It's just chaos with a plan with moments of success.
Let's Talk Income: How I Actually Make a Living
Alright, let's talk dollars because this is what everyone's curious about. Can you legitimately profit as a influencer? Yes. Is it straightforward? Not even close.
My first month, I made nothing. Month two? Zero. Month three, I got my first paid partnership—$150 to share a meal kit service. I actually cried. That $150 covered food.
Fast forward, three years in, here's how I generate revenue:
Sponsored Content: This is my largest income stream. I work with brands that my followers need—things that help, single-parent resources, kids' stuff. I bill anywhere from five hundred to several thousand per partnership, depending on the scope. Just last month, I did four collabs and made eight thousand dollars.
Creator Fund/Ad Revenue: Creator fund pays very little—maybe $200-400 per month for tons of views. YouTube money is way better. I make about fifteen hundred a month from YouTube, but that took two years to build up.
Affiliate Links: I post links to items I love—everything from my favorite coffee maker to the kids' beds. If someone clicks and buys, I get a cut. This brings in about eight hundred to twelve hundred.
Online Products: I created a budget template and a cooking guide. They're $15 each, and I sell 50-100 per month. That's another $1,000-1,500.
Consulting Services: New creators pay me to guide them. I offer 1:1 sessions for two hundred dollars. I do about 5-10 a month.
Overall monthly earnings: Most months, I'm making between ten and fifteen grand per month at this point. It varies, some are tougher. It's up and down, which is stressful when there's no backup. But it's triple what I made at my old job, and I'm present.
The Hard Parts Nobody Mentions
It looks perfect online until you're crying in your car because a post got no views, or managing nasty DMs from random people.
The trolls are vicious. I've been accused of being a bad mother, told I'm a bad influence, told I'm fake about being a solo parent. Someone once commented, "No wonder he left." That one destroyed me.
The algorithm shifts. Sometimes you're getting millions of views. The next, you're barely hitting 1K. Your income varies wildly. You're constantly creating, never resting, worried that if you take a break, you'll be forgotten.
The mom guilt is amplified exponentially. Everything I share, I wonder: Is this too much? Am I doing right by them? Will they resent this when they're teenagers? I have firm rules—limited face shots, keeping their stories private, protecting their dignity. But the line is fuzzy.
The I get burnt out. There are weeks when I can't create. When I'm depleted, socially drained, and just done. But life doesn't stop. So I do it anyway.
What Makes It Worth It
But here's what's real—even with the struggles, this journey has created things I never expected.
Money security for the first time in my life. I'm not a millionaire, but I became debt-free. I have an savings. We took a vacation last summer—Orlando, which was a dream two years ago. I don't panic about money anymore.
Time freedom that's priceless. When my son got sick last month, I didn't have to use PTO or lose income. I worked from the doctor's office. When there's a class party, I'm present. I'm there for them in ways I wasn't able to be with a normal job.
Support that saved me. The other influencers I've found, especially other single parents, have become actual friends. We support each other, collaborate, encourage each other. My followers have become this family. They celebrate my wins, support me, and remind me I'm not alone.
Me beyond motherhood. For the first time since having kids, I have my own thing. I'm not just an ex or just a mom. I'm a CEO. A creator. Someone who created this.
My Best Tips
If you're a single parent curious about this, here's what I'd tell you:
Begin now. Your first videos will be trash. Mine did. Everyone starts there. You learn by doing, not by procrastinating.
Be authentic, not perfect. People can smell fake from a mile away. Share your actual life—the chaos. That's the magic.
Guard their privacy. Set limits. Have standards. Their privacy is sacred. I don't use their names, minimize face content, and never discuss anything that could embarrass them.
Don't rely on one thing. Don't put all eggs in one basket or one way to earn. The algorithm is unpredictable. Multiple streams = safety.
Batch your content. When you have available time, create multiple pieces. Tomorrow you will thank present you when you're drained.
Interact. Reply to comments. Respond to DMs. Build real relationships. Your community is everything.
Track metrics. Time is money. If something takes forever and tanks while something else takes minutes and gets 200,000 views, shift focus.
Take care of yourself. You need to fill your cup. Take breaks. Protect your peace. Your health matters more than anything.
Be patient. This isn't a get-rich-quick scheme. It took me eight months to make decent money. Year one, I made $15K total. Year 2, eighty grand. Year three, I'm on track for six figures. It's a journey.
Stay connected to your purpose. On tough days—and trust me, there will be—think about your why. For me, it's money, time with my children, and demonstrating that I'm capable of more than I thought possible.
Being Real With You
Real talk, I'm not going to sugarcoat this. Content creation as a single mom is challenging. So damn hard. You're running a whole business while being the lone caretaker of demanding little people.
Certain days I wonder what I'm doing. Days when the trolls affect me. Days when I'm exhausted and stressed and wondering if I should quit this with benefits and a steady paycheck.
But but then my daughter tells me she appreciates this. Or I look at my savings. Or I see a message from a follower saying my content changed her life. And I remember my purpose.
The Future
Years ago, I was lost and broke how to make it work. Now, I'm a professional creator making more money than I ever did in traditional work, and I'm present for everything.
My goals for the future? Reach 500K by this year. Begin podcasting for solo parents. Possibly write a book. Expand this business that supports my family.
This path gave me a second chance when I needed it most. It gave me a way to provide for my family, be there, and create something meaningful. It's a surprise, but it's exactly where I needed to be.
To any single parent wondering if an explainer you can do this: You can. It will be hard. You'll doubt yourself. But you're managing the hardest job in the world—raising humans alone. You're powerful.
Jump in messy. Stay the course. Protect your peace. And don't forget, you're doing more than surviving—you're building an empire.
BRB, I need to go create content about why my kid's school project is due tomorrow and nobody told me until now. Because that's the content creator single mom life—turning chaos into content, one post at a time.
For real. This path? It's the best decision. Even if I'm sure there's Goldfish crackers all over my desk. That's the dream, chaos and all.