Real talk, mom life is absolutely wild. But you know what's even crazier? Trying to secure the an in-depth guide bag while managing toddlers and their chaos.
This whole thing started for me about several years ago when I figured out that my random shopping trips were getting out of hand. I was desperate for cash that was actually mine.
Being a VA
Okay so, my initial venture was becoming a virtual assistant. And not gonna lie? It was exactly what I needed. I was able to work during naptime, and literally all it took was my laptop and decent wifi.
I began by basic stuff like email management, scheduling social media posts, and basic admin work. Nothing fancy. I started at about $20/hour, which wasn't much but as a total beginner, you gotta begin at the bottom.
Here's what was wild? I would be on a Zoom call looking all professional from the waist up—blazer, makeup, the works—while sporting pants I'd owned since 2015. That's the dream honestly.
Selling on Etsy
After a year, I wanted to explore the whole Etsy thing. Literally everyone seemed to have an Etsy shop, so I was like "why not me?"
I created making digital planners and digital art prints. The beauty of printables? One and done creation, and it can sell forever. Actually, I've gotten orders at ungodly hours.
When I got my first order? I lost my mind. My husband thought the house was on fire. But no—just me, cheering about my five dollar sale. I'm not embarrassed.
The Content Creation Grind
Then I ventured into creating content online. This venture is a marathon not a sprint, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it.
I began a parenting blog where I shared real mom life—all of it, no filter. Keeping it real. Only authentic experiences about how I once found a chicken nugget in my bra.
Building up views was painfully slow. Initially, I was essentially writing for myself and like three people. But I didn't give up, and slowly but surely, things took off.
Now? I earn income through promoting products, brand partnerships, and advertisements on my site. This past month I earned over two grand from my blog alone. Wild, right?
The Social Media Management Game
As I mastered social media for my own stuff, small companies started inquiring if I could run their social media.
Truth bomb? Most small businesses suck at social media. They recognize they need to be there, but they don't have time.
This is my moment. I currently run social media for a handful of clients—a bakery, a boutique, and a fitness studio. I create content, schedule posts, respond to comments, and monitor performance.
My rate is between five hundred to a thousand dollars per month per client, depending on how much work is involved. What I love? I can do most of it from my phone.
Writing for Money
If you can write, freelance writing is a goldmine. I'm not talking literary fiction—I mean blog posts, articles, website copy, product descriptions.
Websites and businesses always need writers. I've created content about everything from the most random topics. Google is your best friend, you just need to be good at research.
On average earn $50-150 per article, depending on length and complexity. Certain months I'll create 10-15 articles and bring in an extra $1,000-2,000.
What's hilarious: I was that student who thought writing was torture. These days I'm earning a living writing. Life's funny like that.
The Online Tutoring Thing
2020 changed everything, virtual tutoring became huge. I used to be a teacher, so this was right up my alley.
I started working with several tutoring platforms. It's super flexible, which is essential when you have unpredictable little ones.
I mostly tutor elementary school stuff. Income ranges from fifteen to twenty-five hourly depending on which site you use.
Here's what's weird? Every now and then my children will crash my tutoring session mid-session. I once had to be professional while chaos erupted behind me. The families I work with are totally cool about it because they're living the same life.
The Reselling Game
Alright, this one started by accident. During a massive cleanout my kids' things and posted some items on Facebook Marketplace.
They sold so fast. I suddenly understood: people will buy anything.
Now I shop at thrift stores, garage sales, and clearance sections, hunting for name brands. I'll find something for cheap and resell at a markup.
It's definitely work? For sure. It's a whole process. But there's something satisfying about spotting valuable items at the thrift store and turning a profit.
Plus: my kids think I'm cool when I discover weird treasures. Recently I found a collectible item that my son went crazy for. Got forty-five dollars for it. Mom win.
Real Talk Time
Truth bomb incoming: these aren't get-rich-quick schemes. There's work involved, hence the name.
There are days when I'm surviving on caffeine and spite, questioning my life choices. I wake up early working before my kids wake up, then doing all the mom stuff, then back at it after bedtime.
But here's the thing? This income is mine. I'm not asking anyone to get the good coffee. I'm supporting our household income. I'm showing my kids that women can hustle.
Tips if You're Starting Out
If you want to start a hustle of your own, here's what I'd tell you:
Start with one thing. Don't try to do everything at once. Choose one hustle and master it before starting something else.
Use the time you have. If you only have evenings, that's okay. A couple of productive hours is a great beginning.
Avoid comparing yourself to other moms. Everyone you're comparing yourself to? She's been grinding forever and has resources you don't see. Stay in your lane.
Learn and grow, but carefully. You don't need expensive courses. Avoid dropping huge money on programs until you've validated your idea.
Do similar tasks together. This changed everything. Set aside time blocks for different things. Make Monday writing day. Use Wednesday for handling business stuff.
The Mom Guilt is Real
I have to be real with you—guilt is part of this. Certain moments when I'm working and my kid wants attention, and I struggle with it.
But I consider that I'm demonstrating to them how to hustle. I'm showing my daughter that motherhood doesn't mean giving up your identity.
And honestly? Having my own income has improved my mental health. I'm more satisfied, which translates to better parenting.
Income Reality Check
My actual income? Generally, total from all sources, I bring in $3,000-5,000 per month. Some months are better, others are slower.
Is it life-changing money? Not exactly. But it's paid for family trips and unexpected expenses that would've caused financial strain. It's also building my skills and skills that could turn into something bigger.
Final Thoughts
Here's the bottom line, doing this mom hustle thing takes work. There's no secret sauce. Most days I'm improvising everything, surviving on coffee, and hoping for the best.
But I wouldn't change it. Each dollar I earn is validation of my effort. It's proof that I'm not just someone's mother.
For anyone contemplating diving into this? Do it. Start before it's perfect. Future you will thank you.
And remember: You're not just making it through—you're creating something amazing. Even when there's likely Goldfish crackers in your workspace.
Seriously. It's pretty amazing, complete with all the chaos.
My Content Creator Journey: My Journey as a Single Mom
Real talk—single motherhood wasn't the dream. Nor was turning into an influencer. But here we are, three years into this wild journey, supporting my family by sharing my life online while doing this mom thing solo. And I'll be real? It's been scary AF but incredible of my life.
The Beginning: When Everything Imploded
It was three years ago when my life exploded. I remember sitting in my mostly empty place (he got the furniture, I got the memories), wide awake at 2am while my kids were asleep. I had $847 in my checking account, two humans depending on me, and a income that didn't cut it. The stress was unbearable, y'all.
I was on TikTok to distract myself from the anxiety—because that's the move? when we're drowning, right?—when I stumbled on this woman talking about how she became debt-free through posting online. I remember thinking, "That can't be real."
But when you're desperate, you try anything. Or both. Sometimes both.
I got the TikTok studio app the next morning. My first video? Completely unpolished, venting about how I'd just put my last twelve dollars on a cheap food for my kids' lunch boxes. I hit post and panicked. Why would anyone care about this disaster?
Apparently, thousands of people.
That video got 47K views. Forty-seven thousand people watched me almost lose it over $12 worth of food. The comments section became this safe space—fellow solo parents, people living the same reality, all saying "I feel this." That was my turning point. People didn't want the highlight reel. They wanted real.
My Brand Evolution: The Hot Mess Single Mom Brand
Here's the secret about content creation: niche is crucial. And my niche? It found me. I became the mom who tells the truth.
I started posting about the stuff people hide. Like how I lived in one outfit because I couldn't handle laundry. Or when I let them eat Lucky Charms for dinner three nights in a row and called it "survival mode." Or that moment when my kid asked why daddy doesn't live here anymore, and I had to have big conversations to a kid who still believes in Santa.
My content was rough. My lighting was non-existent. I filmed on a phone with a broken screen. But it was unfiltered, and turns out, that's what connected.
Within two months, I hit 10,000 followers. Month three, fifty thousand. By month six, I'd crossed a hundred thousand. Each milestone felt impossible. People who wanted to know my story. Plain old me—a barely surviving single mom who had to ask Google what this meant not long ago.
The Daily Grind: Juggling Everything
Let me show you of my typical day, because this life is totally different from those aesthetic "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm blares. I do want to throw my phone, but this is my work time. I make coffee that I'll reheat three times, and I begin creating. Sometimes it's a get-ready-with-me discussing financial reality. Sometimes it's me meal prepping while venting about custody stuff. The lighting is whatever I can get.
7:00am: Kids get up. Content creation goes on hold. Now I'm in full mom mode—feeding humans, finding the missing shoe (it's always one shoe), prepping food, breaking up sibling fights. The chaos is next level.
8:30am: Carpool line. I'm that mom creating content in traffic when stopped. I know, I know, but content waits for no one.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my work block. Kids are at school. I'm in editing mode, responding to comments, planning content, reaching out to brands, reviewing performance. They believe content creation is only filming. Absolutely not. It's a real job.
I usually batch content on Monday and Wednesday. That means making a dozen videos in one sitting. I'll switch outfits so it seems like separate days. Life hack: Keep multiple tops nearby for quick changes. My neighbors must think I'm insane, filming myself talking to my phone in the yard.
3:00pm: School pickup. Transition back to mom mode. But this is where it's complicated—often my best content ideas come from these after-school moments. A few days ago, my daughter had a massive breakdown in Target because I refused to get a forty dollar toy. I recorded in the vehicle once we left about dealing with meltdowns as a lone parent. It got over 2 million views.
Evening: All the evening things. I'm completely exhausted to create content, but I'll schedule content, reply to messages, or prep for tomorrow. Often, after they're down, I'll edit videos until midnight because a brand deadline is looming.
The truth? Balance is a myth. It's just controlled chaos with random wins.
Let's Talk Income: How I Support My Family
Alright, let's get into the finances because this is what people ask about. Can you legitimately profit as a influencer? 100%. Is it simple? Nope.
My first month, I made zero dollars. Month two? Zero. Month three, I got my first sponsored post—a hundred and fifty bucks to post about a meal box. I cried real tears. That $150 paid for groceries.
Today, years later, here's how I monetize:
Brand Deals: This is my biggest income source. I work with brands that align with my audience—things that help, parenting tools, children's products. I charge anywhere from $500 to $5,000 per partnership, depending on what's required. This past month, I did four brand deals and made eight grand.
Creator Fund/Ad Revenue: TikTok's creator fund pays pennies—two to four hundred per month for huge view counts. YouTube ad revenue is more lucrative. I make about fifteen hundred a month from YouTube, but that required years.
Link Sharing: I share links to items I love—anything from my go-to coffee machine to the beds my kids use. If they buy using my link, I get a kickback. This brings in about eight hundred to twelve hundred.
Online Products: I created a money management guide and a meal planning ebook. They're $15 each, and I sell 50-100 per month. That's another $1,000-1,500.
One-on-One Coaching: People wanting to start pay me to guide them. I offer private coaching for $200 hourly. I do about several a month.
Combined monthly revenue: On average, I'm making ten to fifteen thousand per month currently. It varies, some are lower. It's unpredictable, which is terrifying when you're solo. But it's three times what I made at my old job, and I'm present.
The Dark Side Nobody Talks About
From the outside it's great until you're losing it because a video didn't perform, or dealing with cruel messages from keyboard warriors.
The hate comments are real. I've been told I'm a terrible parent, told I'm problematic, questioned about being a solo parent. One person said, "Maybe your husband left because you're annoying." That one stuck with me.
The algorithm shifts. One week you're getting insane views. Then suddenly, you're struggling for views. Your income varies wildly. You're never off, always working, worried that if you take a break, you'll lose momentum.
The guilt is crushing exponentially. Everything I share, I wonder: Am I sharing too much? Am I doing right by them? Will they resent this when they're older? I have firm rules—no faces of my kids without permission, keeping their stories private, no embarrassing content. But the line is hard to see.
The burnout hits hard. Sometimes when I don't want to film anything. When I'm exhausted, socially drained, and totally spent. But the mortgage is due. So I show up anyway.
What Makes It Worth It
But here's what's real—despite the hard parts, this journey has given me things I never dreamed of.
Financial freedom for the first time in my life. I'm not rich, but I cleared $18K. I have an safety net. We took a actual vacation last summer—the Mouse House, which felt impossible a couple years back. I don't dread checking my balance anymore.
Time freedom that's priceless. When my boy was sick last month, I didn't have to stress about missing work or stress about losing pay. I worked from the doctor's office. When there's a school event, I can go. I'm in their lives in ways I couldn't be with a traditional 9-5.
Community that saved me. The other influencers I've befriended, especially other single parents, have become real friends. We connect, exchange tips, encourage each other. My followers have become this incredible cheerleading squad. They support me, lift me up, and make me feel seen.
Something that's mine. For the first time since having kids, I have my own thing. I'm not just someone's ex-wife or someone's mom. I'm a entrepreneur. A content creator. Someone who created this.
What I Wish I Knew
If you're a single mother considering content creation, here's my advice:
Don't wait. Your first videos will suck. Mine did. Everyone starts there. You get better, not by procrastinating.
Be authentic, not perfect. People can tell when you're fake. Share your real life—the mess. That's the magic.
Guard their privacy. Establish boundaries. Be intentional. Their privacy is everything. I keep names private, protect their faces, and never discuss anything that could embarrass them.
Don't rely on one thing. Don't put all eggs in one basket or a single source. The algorithm is fickle. More streams = less stress.
Batch your content. When you have time alone, film multiple videos. Tomorrow you will appreciate it when you're unable to film.
Interact. Answer comments. Check messages. Be real with them. Your community is crucial.
Analyze performance. Not all content is worth creating. If something requires tons of time and gets nothing while something else takes 20 minutes and goes viral, change tactics.
Self-care matters. You can't pour from an empty cup. Take breaks. Guard your energy. Your mental health matters most.
Stay patient. This takes time. It took me ages to make any real money. My first year, I made maybe $15,000 total. Year 2, $80K. This year, I'm hitting six figures. It's a marathon.
Know your why. On tough days—and they happen—remember your reason. For me, it's money, being there, and proving to myself that I'm stronger than I knew.
The Honest Truth
Here's the deal, I'm being honest. This journey is hard. Incredibly hard. You're operating a business while being the single caregiver of children who require constant attention.
Many days I wonder what I'm doing. Days when the trolls get to me. Days when I'm drained and questioning if I should quit this with benefits and a steady paycheck.
But but then my daughter shares she's proud that I work from home. Or I check my balance and see money. Or I receive a comment from a follower saying my content changed her life. And I remember why I do this.
The Future
Three years ago, I was lost and broke how to survive. Fast forward, I'm a content creator making way more than I made in my 9-5, and I'm there for my kids.
My goals moving forward? Reach 500K by year-end. Launch a podcast for single moms. Possibly write a book. Keep growing this business that changed my life.
Content creation gave me a path forward when I was drowning. It gave me a way to feed my babies, be there, and create something meaningful. It's not the path I expected, but it's meant to be.
To any single parent on the fence: Yes you can. It won't be easy. You'll want to quit some days. But you're already doing the hardest job in the world—parenting solo. You're tougher than you realize.
Jump in messy. Keep showing up. Guard your peace. And always remember, you're beyond survival mode—you're building something incredible.
Gotta go now, I need to go record a video about why my kid's school project is due tomorrow and nobody told me until now. Because that's how it goes—content from the mess, one TikTok at a time.
For real. This journey? It's worth it. Despite I'm sure there's crushed cheerios everywhere. Dream life, mess included.