Let me spill, mom life is not for the weak. But what's really wild? Trying to secure the bag while handling kids, laundry, and approximately 47 snack requests per day.
This whole thing started for me about several years ago when I discovered that my random shopping trips were getting out of hand. I needed some independent income.
The Virtual Assistant Life
Okay so, my initial venture was becoming a virtual assistant. And not gonna lie? It was ideal. I was able to grind during those precious quiet hours, and all I needed was a computer and internet.
I began by basic stuff like organizing inboxes, scheduling social media posts, and data entry. Super simple stuff. I charged about fifteen to twenty bucks hourly, which felt cheap but for someone with zero experience, you gotta build up your portfolio.
What cracked me up? Picture this: me on a client call looking like I had my life together from the chest up—full professional mode—while sporting sweatpants. Living my best life.
My Etsy Journey
About twelve months in, I decided to try the handmade marketplace scene. All my mom friends seemed to have an Etsy shop, so I figured "why not start one too?"
I started making downloadable organizers and home decor prints. The thing about selling digital stuff? You create it once, and it can keep selling indefinitely. Literally, I've made sales at times when I didn't even know.
The first time someone bought something? I lost my mind. My husband thought something was wrong. Not even close—it was just me, celebrating my five dollar sale. I'm not embarrassed.
Content Creator Life
Next I got into blogging and content creation. This venture is a marathon not a sprint, the document here I'm not gonna sugarcoat it.
I began a parenting blog where I wrote about the chaos of parenting—the messy truth. No Instagram-perfect nonsense. Only honest stories about surviving tantrums in Target.
Building traffic was slow. At the beginning, it was basically talking to myself. But I stayed consistent, and after a while, things gained momentum.
Currently? I generate revenue through affiliate links, sponsored posts, and ad revenue. Just last month I generated over two grand from my website. Wild, right?
SMM Side Hustle
After I learned my own content, small companies started asking if I could do the same for them.
Truth bomb? Tons of businesses suck at social media. They understand they have to be on it, but they don't have time.
That's where I come in. I currently run social media for three local businesses—different types of businesses. I develop content, schedule posts, handle community management, and monitor performance.
They pay me between five hundred to a thousand dollars per month per client, depending on what they need. Here's what's great? I can do most of it from my phone during soccer practice.
The Freelance Writing Hustle
For the wordy folks, freelance writing is where it's at. Not like becoming Shakespeare—I mean content writing for businesses.
Businesses everywhere always need writers. I've written articles about everything from dental hygiene to copyright. Google is your best friend, you just need to be good at research.
I typically bill fifty to one hundred fifty bucks per piece, depending on how complex it is. Certain months I'll create fifteen articles and pull in an extra $1,000-2,000.
The funny thing is: I was that student who thought writing was torture. Currently I'm making money from copyright. Talk about character development.
The Online Tutoring Thing
When COVID hit, everyone needed online help. I used to be a teacher, so this was perfect for me.
I signed up with various tutoring services. You choose when you work, which is non-negotiable when you have children who keep you guessing.
I mainly help with elementary reading and math. The pay ranges from fifteen to thirty bucks per hour depending on the platform.
The funny thing? Occasionally my kids will interrupt mid-session. I've had to teach fractions while my toddler screamed about the wrong color cup. Other parents are totally cool about it because they're living the same life.
Flipping Items for Profit
Alright, this particular venture happened accidentally. While organizing my kids' closet and posted some items on Mercari.
Stuff sold out instantly. That's when I realized: you can sell literally anything.
These days I hit up estate sales and thrift shops, on the hunt for things that will sell. I purchase 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 finding hidden treasures at Goodwill and making profit.
Additionally: my kids think I'm cool when I discover weird treasures. Last week I found a collectible item that my son lost his mind over. Sold it for $45. Mom for the win.
Real Talk Time
Here's the thing nobody tells you: these aren't get-rich-quick schemes. They're called hustles for a reason.
There are days when I'm running on empty, wondering why I'm doing this. I'm working before sunrise being productive before the madness begins, then all day mom-ing, then back to work after everyone's in bed.
But this is what's real? I earned this money. I don't have to ask permission to splurge on something nice. I'm supporting our household income. My kids see that you can be both.
What I Wish I Knew
If you're thinking about a side gig, this is what I've learned:
Begin with something manageable. Avoid trying to juggle ten things. Start with one venture and become proficient before taking on more.
Work with your schedule. Whatever time you have, that's okay. A couple of productive hours is better than nothing.
Don't compare yourself to what you see online. Those people with massive success? They put in years of work and doesn't do it alone. Do your thing.
Spend money on education, but smartly. Start with free stuff first. Don't waste huge money on programs until you've tried things out.
Work in batches. This is crucial. Set aside certain times for certain work. Use Monday for creation day. Wednesday might be admin and emails.
Dealing with Mom Guilt
I'm not gonna lie—the mom guilt is real. There are times when I'm hustling and my child is calling for me, and I feel guilty.
However I think about that I'm showing them what dedication looks like. I'm showing my daughter that you can be both.
And honestly? Financial independence has been good for me. I'm more fulfilled, which helps me be better.
The Numbers
How much do I earn? Generally, between all my hustles, I bring in $3,000-5,000 per month. It varies, others are slower.
Will this make you wealthy? Not exactly. But this money covers stuff that matters to us that would've stressed us out. It's also developing my career and knowledge that could evolve into something huge.
Wrapping This Up
At the end of the day, hustling as a mom is hard. There's no such thing as a secret sauce. Many days I'm winging it, running on coffee and determination, and doing my best.
But I wouldn't change it. Every penny made is a testament to my hustle. It's proof that I'm a multifaceted person.
For anyone contemplating diving into this? Go for it. Start before it's perfect. You in six months will appreciate it.
Keep in mind: You're not just making it through—you're building something. Even though there's likely snack crumbs on your keyboard.
Seriously. The whole thing is where it's at, chaos and all.
My Content Creator Journey: My Journey as a Single Mom
Real talk—single motherhood wasn't the dream. Nor was becoming a content creator. But here we are, three years into this wild journey, earning income by sharing my life online while doing this mom thing solo. And not gonna lie? It's been scary AF but incredible of my life.
Rock Bottom: When Everything Came Crashing Down
It was a few years ago when my life exploded. I can still picture sitting in my bare apartment (he took what he wanted, I kept what mattered), scrolling mindlessly at 2am while my kids were passed out. I had $847 in my bank account, two mouths to feed, and a salary that was a joke. The anxiety was crushing, y'all.
I'd been scrolling TikTok to avoid my thoughts—because that's the move? when our lives are falling apart, right?—when I stumbled on this solo parent sharing how she changed her life through making videos. I remember thinking, "No way that's legit."
But being broke makes you bold. Or stupid. Sometimes both.
I got the TikTok creator app the next morning. My first video? Completely unpolished, sharing how I'd just put my last twelve dollars on a cheap food for my kids' lunches. I uploaded it and wanted to delete it. Who gives a damn about this disaster?
Turns out, way more people than I expected.
That video got nearly 50,000 views. Forty-seven thousand people watched me nearly cry over chicken nuggets. The comments section became this safe space—people who got it, people living the same reality, all saying "I feel this." That was my aha moment. People didn't want perfect. They wanted real.
My Brand Evolution: The Honest Single Parent Platform
Here's the secret about content creation: niche is crucial. And my niche? It happened organically. I became the real one.
I started filming the stuff no one shows. Like how I wore the same leggings all week because washing clothes was too much. Or when I let them eat Lucky Charms for dinner three nights in a row and called it "cereal week." Or that moment when my kid asked where daddy went, and I had to talk about complex things to a kid who is six years old.
My content wasn't polished. My lighting was terrible. I filmed on a phone with a broken screen. But it was unfiltered, and turns out, that's what connected.
In just two months, I hit 10K. Month three, 50K. By month six, I'd crossed 100K. Each milestone felt impossible. These were real people who wanted to listen to me. Plain old me—a struggling single mom who had to learn everything from scratch not long ago.
The Actual Schedule: Juggling Everything
Let me paint you a picture of my typical day, because this life is not at all 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 hustle hours. I make coffee that I'll microwave repeatedly, and I begin creating. Sometimes it's a morning routine sharing about budgeting. Sometimes it's me making food while venting about co-parenting struggles. The lighting is not great.
7:00am: Kids emerge. Content creation stops. Now I'm in mommy mode—cooking eggs, locating lost items (it's always one shoe), making lunch boxes, breaking up sibling fights. The chaos is real.
8:30am: Getting them to school. I'm that mom creating content in traffic at stop signs. Not proud of this, but content waits for no one.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my power window. Kids are at school. I'm in editing mode, being social, thinking of ideas, doing outreach, reviewing performance. They believe content creation is only filming. Absolutely not. It's a real job.
I usually create multiple videos on certain days. That means filming 10-15 videos in a few hours. I'll switch outfits so it looks varied. Hot tip: Keep different outfits accessible for quick changes. My neighbors think I've lost it, filming myself talking to my phone in the driveway.
3:00pm: Picking them up. Transition back to mom mode. But here's where it gets tricky—frequently my best content ideas come from real life. Last week, my daughter had a epic meltdown in Target because I refused to get a forty dollar toy. I created a video in the parking lot afterward about handling public tantrums as a single parent. It got 2.3 million views.
Evening: Dinner, homework, bath time, bedtime routines. I'm typically drained to create content, but I'll queue up posts, answer messages, or strategize. Many nights, after they're down, I'll stay up editing because a client needs content.
The truth? Balance is a myth. It's just chaos with a plan with occasional wins.
The Money Talk: How I Generate Income
Okay, let's talk numbers because this is what people ask about. Can you make a living as a content creator? For sure. Is it easy? Nope.
My first month, I made zilch. Second month? Still nothing. Third month, I got my first collaboration—$150 to promote a meal box. I cried real tears. That hundred fifty dollars covered food.
Fast forward, three years later, here's how I earn income:
Collaborations: This is my primary income. I work with brands that fit my niche—affordable stuff, single-parent resources, children's products. I bill anywhere from $500 to $5,000 per deal, depending on what's required. This past month, I did 4 sponsored posts and made eight thousand dollars.
Ad Money: Creator fund pays very little—two to four hundred per month for massive numbers. YouTube ad revenue is actually decent. I make about $1.5K monthly from YouTube, but that was a long process.
Link Sharing: I post links to items I love—ranging from my go-to coffee machine to the beds my kids use. If someone purchases through my link, I get a cut. This brings in about $800-$1200/month.
Online Products: I created a money management guide and a meal planning ebook. $15 apiece, and I sell fifty to a hundred per month. That's another thousand to fifteen hundred.
Consulting Services: People wanting to start pay me to show them how. I offer one-on-one coaching sessions for $200/hour. I do about five to ten a month.
Combined monthly revenue: Most months, I'm making $10,000-15,000 per month at this point. It varies, some are tougher. It's variable, which is stressful when you're it. But it's three times what I made at my 9-5, and I'm present.
The Struggles Nobody Talks About
This sounds easy until you're losing it because a video flopped, or reading vicious comments from keyboard warriors.
The hate comments are real. I've been called a bad mom, told I'm exploiting my kids, questioned about being a solo parent. I'll never forget, "No wonder he left." That one destroyed me.
The algorithm changes constantly. One month you're getting viral hits. Next month, you're lucky to break 1,000. Your income is unstable. You're always creating, always working, nervous about slowing down, you'll lose momentum.
The mom guilt is intense beyond normal. Everything I share, I wonder: Am I sharing too much? Are my kids safe? Will they resent this when they're adults? I have non-negotiables—limited face shots, no discussing their personal struggles, nothing humiliating. But the line is fuzzy.
The I get burnt out. Sometimes when I don't want to film anything. When I'm touched out, over it, and just done. But life doesn't stop. So I create anyway.
What Makes It Worth It
But here's the thing—despite the hard parts, this journey has brought me things I never anticipated.
Economic stability for the first time in my life. I'm not wealthy, but I paid off $18,000 in debt. I have an savings. We took a actual vacation last summer—the Mouse House, which was a dream two years ago. I don't stress about my account anymore.
Time freedom that's priceless. When my kid was ill last month, I didn't have to ask permission or panic. I worked anywhere. When there's a field trip, I'm present. I'm in their lives in ways I couldn't manage with a regular job.
My people that saved me. The fellow creators I've met, especially other single parents, have become my people. We vent, exchange tips, lift each other up. My followers have become this incredible cheerleading squad. They hype me up, encourage me through rough patches, and validate me.
My own identity. After years, I have my own thing. I'm not just someone's ex-wife or only a parent. I'm a business owner. An influencer. Someone who built something from nothing.
Advice for Aspiring Creators
If you're a solo parent thinking about this, listen up:
Don't wait. Your first videos will be terrible. Mine did. It's fine. You improve over time, not by procrastinating.
Be yourself. People can tell when you're fake. Share your true life—the mess. That's what works.
Guard their privacy. Establish boundaries. Have standards. Their privacy is sacred. I never share their names, rarely show their faces, and respect their dignity.
Don't rely on one thing. Spread it out or one income stream. The algorithm is fickle. Multiple income streams = stability.
Create in batches. When you have free time, create multiple pieces. Tomorrow you will appreciate it when you're unable to film.
Engage with your audience. Answer comments. Answer DMs. Build real relationships. Your community is what matters.
Track metrics. Time is money. If something takes four hours and tanks while another video takes 20 minutes and gets massive views, change tactics.
Don't forget yourself. You matter too. Take breaks. Create limits. Your health matters more than anything.
Stay patient. This is a marathon. It took me months to make meaningful money. My first year, I made barely $15,000. Year two, $80K. Year 3, I'm projected for $100K+. It's a journey.
Know your why. On bad days—and there will be many—think about your why. For me, it's independence, time with my children, and demonstrating that I'm capable of more than I thought possible.
The Reality Check
Look, I'm being honest. Being a single mom creator is difficult. Really hard. You're operating a business while being the sole caretaker of children who require constant attention.
Certain days I wonder what I'm doing. Days when the negativity get to me. Days when I'm exhausted and stressed and asking myself if I should get a regular job with consistent income.
But then suddenly my daughter tells me she's happy I'm here. Or I see my bank account actually has money in it. Or I receive a comment from a follower saying my content changed her life. And I know it's worth it.
The Future
Years ago, I was broke, scared, and had no idea how to survive. Fast forward, I'm a content creator making more than I imagined in traditional work, and I'm available when they need me.
My goals for the future? Reach 500K by end of year. Create a podcast for single moms. Maybe write a book. Keep building this business that gives me freedom, flexibility, and financial stability.
This journey gave me a lifeline when I needed it most. It gave me a way to support my kids, show up, and build something real. It's not what I planned, but it's perfect.
To every solo parent on the fence: You absolutely can. It won't be easy. You'll doubt yourself. But you're managing the most difficult thing—parenting solo. You're powerful.
Jump in messy. Be consistent. Prioritize yourself. And remember, you're more than just surviving—you're building an empire.
Gotta go now, I need to go record a video about another last-minute project and surprise!. Because that's the content creator single mom life—turning chaos into content, video by video.
Honestly. This path? It's worth every struggle. Even though there's definitely old snacks everywhere. That's the dream, chaos and all.