I'm gonna be honest with you, motherhood is not for the weak. But you know what's even crazier? Attempting to get that bread while managing children who have boundless energy while I'm running on fumes.
I entered the side gig world about a few years back when I figured out that my random shopping trips were becoming problematic. I had to find cash that was actually mine.
Being a VA
Here's what happened, I started out was becoming a virtual assistant. And honestly? It was perfect. I could get stuff done when the house was finally peaceful, and the only requirement was a computer and internet.
I started with simple tasks like organizing inboxes, scheduling social media posts, and basic admin work. Super simple stuff. My rate was about $20/hour, which seemed low but when you're just starting, you gotta begin at the bottom.
Honestly the most hilarious thing? Picture this: me on a Zoom call looking all professional from the waist up—full professional mode—while wearing my rattiest leggings. That's the dream honestly.
Selling on Etsy
About twelve months in, I ventured into the handmade marketplace scene. All my mom friends seemed to sell stuff on Etsy, so I was like "why not get in on this?"
I created crafting downloadable organizers and wall art. Here's why printables are amazing? You create it once, and it can keep selling indefinitely. Genuinely, I've gotten orders at times when I didn't even know.
That initial sale? I lost my mind. My partner was like there was an emergency. But no—just me, doing a happy dance for my $4.99 sale. Judge me if you want.
Blogging and Creating
After that I got into writing and making content. This one is not for instant gratification seekers, let me tell you.
I created a mom blog where I wrote about the chaos of parenting—all of it, no filter. None of that Pinterest-perfect life. Simply authentic experiences about how I once found a chicken nugget in my bra.
Building traffic was like watching paint dry. For months, it was basically my only readers were my mom and two bots. But I kept at it, and over time, things took off.
At this point? I earn income through affiliate links, sponsored posts, and display ads. Just last month I generated over $2K from my blog alone. Mind-blowing, right?
Managing Social Media
When I became good with running my own socials, small companies started asking if I could manage their accounts.
Truth bomb? Tons of businesses don't understand social media. They realize they need to be there, but they don't have time.
Enter: me. I now manage social media for several small companies—different types of businesses. I develop content, plan their posting schedule, interact with their audience, and monitor performance.
I charge between five hundred to a thousand dollars per month per business, depending on the scope of work. Here's what's great? I handle this from my phone while sitting in the carpool line.
Freelance Writing Life
If you can write, content writing is seriously profitable. Not like literary fiction—this is commercial writing.
Businesses everywhere need content constantly. I've written articles about everything from the most random topics. You just need to research, you just need to know how to Google effectively.
On average earn $50-150 per article, depending on the topic and length. On good months I'll crank out a dozen articles and earn an extra $1,000-2,000.
What's hilarious: I was the person who struggled with essays. These days I'm making money from copyright. Life's funny like that.
Virtual Tutoring
After lockdown started, online tutoring exploded. I was a teacher before kids, so this was right up my alley.
I registered on various tutoring services. The scheduling is flexible, which is absolutely necessary when you have kids with unpredictable schedules.
My sessions are usually K-5 subjects. The pay ranges from $15-25 per hour depending on the platform.
The funny thing? There are times when my kids will burst into the room mid-session. I once had to educate someone's child while mine had a meltdown. The parents on the other end are totally cool about it because they're living the same life.
The Reselling Game
So, this side gig wasn't planned. While organizing my kids' closet and posted some items on Facebook Marketplace.
Stuff sold out so fast. That's when I realized: people will buy anything.
Currently I visit thrift stores, garage sales, and clearance sections, looking for things that will sell. I purchase something for $3 and sell it for $30.
Is it a lot of work? Not gonna lie. There's photographing, listing, and shipping. But it's strangely fulfilling about finding a gem at Goodwill and earning from it.
Plus: the kids think it's neat when I discover weird treasures. Just last week I grabbed a collectible item that my son freaked out about. Got forty-five dollars for it. Score one for mom.
Real Talk Time
Here's the thing nobody tells you: this stuff requires effort. The word 'hustle' is there for a reason.
Some days when I'm exhausted, wondering why I'm doing this. I'm grinding at dawn getting stuff done while it's quiet, then all day mom-ing, then back to work after everyone's in bed.
But you know what? This income is mine. No permission needed to get the good coffee. I'm supporting our financial goals. My kids are learning that you can be both.
Advice for New Mom Hustlers
For those contemplating a hustle of your own, this is what I've learned:
Begin with something manageable. Don't attempt to juggle ten things. Choose one hustle and nail it down before expanding.
Honor your limits. If you only have evenings, that's okay. Even one focused hour is valuable.
Avoid comparing yourself to Instagram moms. Everyone you're comparing yourself to? She's been grinding forever and doesn't do it alone. Do your thing.
Learn and grow, but carefully. There are tons of free resources. Don't waste huge money on programs until you've validated your idea.
Do similar tasks together. I learned this the hard way. Set aside certain times for certain work. Use Monday for content creation day. Use Wednesday for admin and emails.
The Mom Guilt is Real
I have to be real with you—guilt is part of this. Sometimes when I'm working and my kid wants attention, and I hate it.
Yet I remind myself that I'm showing them how to hustle. I'm teaching my kids that motherhood doesn't mean giving up your identity.
Plus? Earning independently has improved my mental health. I'm more content, which translates to better parenting.
Income Reality Check
The real numbers? Typically, total from all sources, I earn $3,000-5,000 per month. Some months are lower, it fluctuates.
Is this millionaire money? Nope. But I've used it for so many things we needed that would've been impossible otherwise. Plus it's developing my career and expertise that could become a full-time thing.
In Conclusion
Listen, hustling as a mom is challenging. There's no magic formula. Many days I'm flying by the seat of my pants, running on coffee and determination, and crossing my fingers.
But I'm proud of this journey. Every single dollar earned is evidence of my capability. It's evidence that I have identity beyond motherhood.
For anyone contemplating diving into this? Go for it. Don't wait for perfect. Your tomorrow self will be so glad you did.
Keep in mind: You're not just surviving—you're growing something incredible. Even if there's probably old cheerios stuck to your laptop.
Seriously. It's the life, despite the chaos.
Surviving to Thriving: My Journey as a Single Mom
Here's the truth—single motherhood wasn't the dream. I never expected to be making money from my phone. But yet here I am, three years later, supporting my family by creating content while doing this mom thing solo. And honestly? It's been the best worst decision of my life.
The Beginning: When Everything Imploded
It was 2022 when my life exploded. I will never forget sitting in my half-empty apartment (he got the furniture, I got the memories), scrolling mindlessly at 2am while my kids slept. I had $847 in my bank account, two kids to support, and a job that barely covered rent. The anxiety was crushing, 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 solo parent discussing how she became debt-free through posting online. I remember thinking, "That's either a scam or she's incredibly lucky."
But when you're desperate, you try anything. Maybe both. Usually both.
I downloaded the TikTok creator app the next morning. My first video? Me, no makeup, messy bun, talking about 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. Why would anyone care about someone's train wreck of a life?
Apparently, a lot of people.
That video got forty-seven thousand views. Nearly fifty thousand people watched me almost lose it over $12 worth of food. The comments section turned into this safe space—fellow solo parents, people living the same reality, all saying "me too." That was my turning point. People didn't want filtered content. They wanted raw.
Discovering My Voice: The Honest Single Parent Platform
The truth is about content creation: finding your niche is everything. And my niche? I stumbled into it. I became the single mom who keeps it brutally honest.
I started filming the stuff no one shows. 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 kid asked about the divorce, and I had to discuss divorce to a kid who thinks the tooth fairy is real.
My content was raw. My lighting was terrible. I filmed on a cracked iPhone 8. But it was unfiltered, and evidently, that's what connected.
Two months later, I hit 10K. Month three, fifty thousand. By six months, I'd crossed a hundred thousand. Each milestone blew my mind. Actual humans who wanted to follow me. Plain old me—a struggling single mom who had to figure this out from zero six months earlier.
A Day in the Life: Content Creation Meets Real Life
Let me show you of my typical day, because this life is nothing like those pretty "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm screams. I do NOT want to get up, but this is my hustle hours. I make coffee that will get cold, and I start filming. Sometimes it's a get-ready-with-me sharing about budgeting. Sometimes it's me prepping lunches while sharing parenting coordination. The lighting is whatever natural light comes through my kitchen window.
7:00am: Kids wake up. Content creation pauses. Now I'm in mommy mode—making breakfast, the shoe hunt (where do they go), prepping food, referee duties. The chaos is real.
8:30am: Drop off time. I'm that mom creating content in traffic in the car. Not proud of this, but content waits for no one.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my work block. House is quiet. I'm editing content, being social, planning content, doing outreach, analyzing metrics. People think content creation is just making TikToks. Absolutely not. It's a real job.
I usually create multiple videos on certain days. That means creating 10-15 pieces in a few hours. I'll change clothes so it appears to be different times. Pro tip: Keep several shirts ready for outfit changes. My neighbors must think I'm insane, recording myself alone in the yard.
3:00pm: School pickup. Back to parenting. But this is where it's complicated—frequently my viral videos come from this time. Last week, my daughter had a epic meltdown in Target because I couldn't afford a $40 toy. I created a video in the parking lot later about handling public tantrums as a single mom. It got over 2 million views.
Evening: The evening routine. I'm completely exhausted to create anything, but I'll schedule uploads, answer messages, or prep for tomorrow. Certain nights, after the kids are asleep, I'll work late because a partnership is due.
The truth? No such thing as balance. It's just controlled chaos with random wins.
Let's Talk Income: How I Actually Make a Living
Alright, let's talk dollars because this is what you're wondering. Can you actually make money as a influencer? 100%. Is it straightforward? Not even close.
My first month, I made zilch. Month two? Still nothing. Month three, I got my first paid partnership—one hundred fifty dollars to share a meal kit service. I actually cried. That $150 bought groceries for two weeks.
Currently, years later, here's how I monetize:
Brand Deals: This is my primary income. I work with brands that fit my niche—affordable stuff, parenting tools, children's products. I get paid anywhere from five hundred to several thousand per partnership, depending on what's required. Last month, I did four partnerships and made $8,000.
Ad Money: TikTok's creator fund pays basically nothing—two to four hundred per month for millions of views. YouTube revenue is way better. I make about $1,500/month from YouTube, but that took two years to build up.
Link Sharing: I share affiliate links to stuff I really use—everything from my go-to coffee machine to the kids' beds. If someone clicks and buys, I get a cut. This brings in about $800-$1200/month.
Downloadables: I created a money management guide and a cooking guide. $15 apiece, and I sell dozens per month. That's another over a thousand dollars.
One-on-One Coaching: Aspiring influencers pay me to teach them the ropes. I offer private coaching for $200 hourly. I do about 5-10 a month.
Total monthly income: Most months, I'm making ten to fifteen thousand per month at this point. It varies, some are less. It's unpredictable, which is nerve-wracking when there's no backup. But it's three times what I made at my old job, and I'm home when my kids need me.
The Dark Side Nobody Mentions
From the outside it's great until you're sobbing alone because a post tanked, or handling hate comments from keyboard warriors.
The trolls are vicious. I've been called a bad mom, told I'm exploiting my kids, called a liar about being a divorced parent. A commenter wrote, "I'd leave too." That one destroyed me.
The platform changes. Sometimes you're getting viral hits. The following week, you're getting nothing. Your income varies wildly. You're never off, always working, worried that if you take a break, you'll be forgotten.
The guilt is crushing to the extreme. Everything I share, I wonder: Am I sharing too much? Is this okay? Will they hate me for this when they're teenagers? I have firm rules—protected identities, keeping their stories private, nothing humiliating. But the line is hard to see.
The burnout is real. Certain periods when I have nothing. When I'm done, socially drained, and at my limit. But rent doesn't care. So I create anyway.
The Beautiful Parts
But here's the thing—despite everything, this journey has blessed me with things I never expected.
Money security for the first time ever. I'm not wealthy, but I paid off $18,000 in debt. I have an savings. We took a vacation last summer—Orlando, which I never thought possible a couple years back. 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 stress about losing pay. I worked from the pediatrician's waiting room. When there's a class party, I'm there. I'm available in ways I wasn't able to be with a normal job.
Support that saved me. The fellow creators I've connected with, especially other single parents, have become my people. We support each other, exchange tips, have each other's backs. My followers have become this family. They support me, lift me up, and make me feel seen.
Identity beyond "mom". Finally, I have my own thing. I'm not defined by divorce or only a parent. I'm a entrepreneur. A creator. Someone who made it happen.
What I Wish I Knew
If you're a single parent curious about this, here's what I wish someone had told me:
Start before you're ready. Your first videos will suck. Mine did. Everyone starts there. You get better, not by procrastinating.
Keep it real. People can spot fake. Share your actual life—the mess. That's the magic.
Guard their privacy. Create rules. Be intentional. Their privacy is the priority. I don't use their names, rarely show their faces, and respect their dignity.
Build multiple income streams. Don't put all eggs in one basket or a single source. The algorithm is unstable. Diversification = security.
Film multiple videos. When you have available time, record several. Tomorrow you will appreciate it when you're burnt out.
Interact. Answer comments. Answer DMs. Connect authentically. Your community is everything.
Track metrics. Not all content is worth creating. If something requires tons of time and tanks while another video takes very little time and gets 200,000 views, change tactics.
Don't forget yourself. You need to fill your cup. Take breaks. Create limits. Your sanity matters more than going viral.
This takes time. This takes time. It took me months to make any real money. Year one, I made barely $15,000. Year two, $80,000. This year, I'm projected for $100K+. It's a journey.
Know your why. On bad days—and there will be many—remember why you're doing this. For me, it's financial freedom, flexibility with my kids, the linked page and demonstrating that I'm capable of more than I thought possible.
The Reality Check
Look, I'm keeping it 100. Content creation as a single mom is difficult. So damn hard. You're basically running a business while being the sole caretaker of kids who need everything.
Certain days I wonder what I'm doing. Days when the hate comments affect me. Days when I'm exhausted and stressed and questioning if I should just get a "normal" job with benefits and a steady paycheck.
But but then my daughter says she loves that I'm home. Or I check my balance and see money. Or I read a message from a follower saying my content helped her leave an unhealthy relationship. And I remember my purpose.
What's Next
Three years ago, I was terrified and clueless what to do. Currently, I'm a professional creator making more money than I ever did in corporate America, and I'm available when they need me.
My goals for the future? Hit 500K by end of year. Start a podcast for solo parents. Consider writing a book. Expand this business that changed my life.
This path gave me a lifeline when I was desperate. It gave me a way to support my kids, be present in their lives, and create something meaningful. It's a surprise, but it's meant to be.
To every solo parent considering this: Hell yes you can. It will be challenging. You'll struggle. But you're managing the hardest job—parenting solo. You're powerful.
Jump in messy. Stay the course. Keep your boundaries. And remember, you're beyond survival mode—you're building something incredible.
Gotta go now, I need to go record a video about another last-minute project and surprise!. Because that's this life—chaos becomes content, one post at a time.
No cap. This path? It's the best decision. Even though there's probably old snacks stuck to my laptop right now. That's the dream, chaos and all.