Busy parent side hustles this year : explained that helps mothers seeking flexibility earn income from home

Let me tell you, motherhood is no joke. But you know what's even crazier? Attempting to make some extra cash while managing kids, laundry, and approximately 47 snack requests per day.

This whole thing started for me about a few years back when I realized that my random shopping trips were reaching dangerous levels. It was time to get funds I didn't have to justify spending.

Virtual Assistant Hustle

Okay so, I kicked things off was doing VA work. And real talk? It was exactly what I needed. I was able to grind during those precious quiet hours, and all I needed was my trusty MacBook and a prayer.

Initially I was doing simple tasks like organizing inboxes, managing social content, and basic admin work. Not rocket science. I charged about $20/hour, which seemed low but for someone with zero experience, you gotta prove yourself first.

What cracked me up? There I was on a client call looking completely put together from the shoulders up—looking corporate—while sporting my rattiest leggings. Living my best life.

My Etsy Journey

After getting my feet wet, I decided to try the handmade marketplace scene. Literally everyone seemed to be on Etsy, so I figured "why not me?"

My shop focused on making PDF planners and home decor prints. What's great about digital products? Design it once, and it can keep selling indefinitely. For real, I've earned money at midnight when I'm unconscious.

That initial sale? I lost my mind. My husband thought I'd injured myself. But no—I was just, celebrating my $4.99 sale. Don't judge me.

The Content Creation Grind

Then I discovered writing and making content. This venture is definitely a slow burn, trust me on this.

I started a family lifestyle blog where I documented the chaos of parenting—the good, the bad, and the ugly. None of that Pinterest-perfect life. Just the actual truth about the time my kid decorated the walls with Nutella.

Getting readers was a test of patience. The first few months, I was essentially talking to myself. But I didn't give up, and slowly but surely, things began working.

These days? I generate revenue through promoting products, sponsored posts, and advertisements on my site. Recently I brought in over two grand from my website. Mind-blowing, right?

The Social Media Management Game

Once I got decent at managing my blog's social media, brands started inquiring if I could manage their accounts.

Real talk? Many companies are terrible with social media. They recognize they should be posting, but they don't know how.

Enter: me. I currently run social media for several small companies—a bakery, a boutique, and a fitness studio. I create content, queue up posts, respond to comments, and track analytics.

They pay me between $500-1500 per month per client, depending on the scope of work. What I love? I can do most of it from my iPhone.

The Freelance Writing Hustle

For the wordy folks, writing gigs is incredibly lucrative. I'm not talking writing the next Great American Novel—I'm talking about business content.

Companies need content constantly. My assignments have included everything from literally everything under the sun. You don't need to be an expert, you just need to be good at research.

Generally bill fifty to one hundred fifty bucks per piece, depending on length and complexity. On good months I'll crank out 10-15 articles and bring in one to two thousand extra.

The funny thing is: I'm the same person who barely passed English class. Now I'm earning a living writing. Life is weird.

The Online Tutoring Thing

During the pandemic, virtual tutoring became huge. I was a teacher before kids, so this was perfect for me.

I registered on VIPKid and Tutor.com. You choose when you work, which is crucial when you have tiny humans who throw curveballs daily.

I mainly help with elementary school stuff. You can make from $15-$25/hour depending on which site you use.

Here's what's weird? There are times when my own kids will burst into the room mid-session. There was a time I be professional while chaos erupted behind me. Other parents are usually super understanding because they understand mom life.

Reselling and Flipping

Okay, this particular venture happened accidentally. I was cleaning out my kids' room and posted some items on various apps.

They sold within hours. Lightbulb moment: there's a market for everything.

Now I frequent anywhere with deals, looking for good brands. I purchase something for cheap and resell at a markup.

It's labor-intensive? For sure. There's photographing, listing, and shipping. But it's strangely fulfilling about finding a gem at a yard sale and turning a profit.

Additionally: the kids think it's neat when I find unique items. Recently I found a collectible item that my son went crazy for. Got forty-five dollars for it. Score one for mom.

The Honest Reality

Let me keep it real: side hustles aren't passive income. It's called hustling because you're hustling.

There are days when I'm surviving on caffeine and spite, questioning my life choices. I'm working before sunrise being productive before the madness begins, then being a full-time parent, then back to work after the kids are asleep.

But here's the thing? This income is mine. I can spend it guilt-free to get the good coffee. I'm contributing to our financial goals. I'm showing my kids that moms can do anything.

What I Wish I Knew

If you're considering a side gig, here's what I'd tell you:

Start with one thing. Avoid trying to launch everything simultaneously. Focus on one and master it before taking on more.

Use the time you have. If naptime is your only free time, that's fine. A couple of productive hours is more than enough to start.

Avoid comparing yourself to what you see online. The successful ones you see? She's been grinding forever and doesn't do it alone. Run your own race.

Spend money on education, but smartly. There are tons of free resources. Don't spend massive amounts on training until you've validated your idea.

Do similar tasks together. This saved my sanity. Use certain times for certain work. Monday might be creation day. Make Wednesday handling business stuff.

The Mom Guilt is Real

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 struggle with it.

However I consider that I'm demonstrating to them that hard work matters. I'm demonstrating to my children that you can be both.

Also? Having my own income has been good for me. I'm happier, which helps me be better.

Income Reality Check

The real numbers? On average, combining everything, I bring in $3,000-5,000 per month. Certain months are higher, others are slower.

Is this millionaire money? Nope. But I've used it for vacations, home improvements, and that emergency vet bill that would've caused financial strain. And it's building my skills and expertise that could grow into more.

Final Thoughts

Here's the bottom line, doing this mom hustle thing is challenging. There's no magic formula. Often I'm flying by the seat of my pants, running on coffee and determination, and praying it all works out.

But I'm glad I'm doing this. Every single bit of income is a testament to my hustle. It shows that I have identity beyond motherhood.

So if you're considering launching a mom business? Go for it. Start before it's perfect. Your future self will be so glad you did.

And remember: You're not just making it through—you're hustling. Even though there's probably snack crumbs everywhere.

Seriously. The whole thing is the life, despite the chaos.

From Rock Bottom to Creator Success: My Journey as a Single Mom

Real talk—being a single parent wasn't on my vision board. I never expected to be turning into an influencer. But here I am, three years into this wild journey, supporting my family by sharing my life online while parenting alone. And real talk? It's been scary AF but incredible of my life.

The Starting Point: When Everything Imploded

It was a few years ago when my marriage ended. I remember sitting in my mostly empty place (he took the couch, I got the kids' art projects), unable to sleep at 2am while my kids were passed out. I had barely $850 in my account, two kids to support, and a job that barely covered rent. The anxiety was crushing, y'all.

I'd been scrolling TikTok to numb the pain—because that's self-care at 2am, right? when we're drowning, right?—when I saw this divorced mom sharing how she made six figures through content creation. I remember thinking, "That's either a scam or she's incredibly lucky."

But when you're desperate, you try anything. Or both. Sometimes both.

I got the TikTok studio app the next morning. My first video? Raw, unfiltered, messy hair, talking about how I'd just blown my final $12 on a frozen nuggets and juice boxes for my kids' school lunches. I hit post and panicked. Who gives a damn about this disaster?

Plot twist, thousands of people.

That video got 47,000 views. Nearly fifty thousand people watched me breakdown over chicken nuggets. The comments section turned into this incredible community—fellow solo parents, other people struggling, all saying "same." That was my lightbulb moment. People didn't want perfect. They wanted raw.

Discovering My Voice: The Real Mom Life Brand

Here's what they don't say about content creation: your niche matters. And my niche? It happened organically. I became the real one.

I started filming the stuff nobody talks about. Like how I once wore the same yoga pants for four days straight because laundry felt impossible. Or when I fed my kids cereal for dinner several days straight and called it "survival mode." Or that moment when my kid asked why we don't live with dad, and I had to have big conversations to a kid who still believes in Santa.

My content wasn't pretty. My lighting was awful. I filmed on a ancient iPhone. But it was honest, and apparently, that's what connected.

After sixty days, I hit ten thousand followers. Month three, fifty thousand. By month six, I'd crossed a hundred thousand. Each milestone felt surreal. Actual humans who wanted to hear what I had to say. Plain old me—a struggling single mom who had to ask Google what this meant not long ago.

The Daily Grind: Content Creation Meets Real Life

Here's the reality of my typical day, because this life is totally different from those perfect "day in the life" videos you see.

5:30am: My alarm screams. I do absolutely not want to wake up, but this is my precious quiet time. I make coffee that I'll reheat three times, and I begin creating. Sometimes it's a get-ready-with-me discussing single mom finances. Sometimes it's me cooking while venting about parenting coordination. The lighting is not great.

7:00am: Kids emerge. Content creation stops. Now I'm in survival mode—cooking eggs, locating lost items (it's always one shoe), packing lunches, stopping fights. 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. House is quiet. I'm in editing mode, being social, ideating, reaching out to brands, reviewing performance. They believe content creation is simple. Absolutely not. It's a real job.

I usually batch-create content on Monday and Wednesday. That means creating 10-15 pieces in a few hours. I'll change shirts between videos so it looks like different days. Hot tip: Keep several shirts ready for quick changes. My neighbors think I've lost it, talking to my camera in the driveway.

3:00pm: School pickup. Mom mode activated. But plot twist—sometimes my top performing content come from this time. Just last week, my daughter had a massive breakdown in Target because I couldn't afford a expensive toy. I created a video in the Target parking lot later about handling public tantrums as a single parent. It got 2.3 million views.

Evening: Dinner through bedtime. I'm typically drained to make videos, but I'll queue up posts, answer messages, or outline content. Many nights, after bedtime, I'll edit videos until midnight because a deadline is coming.

The truth? There's no balance. It's just managed chaos with occasional wins.

Income Breakdown: How I Really Earn Money

Okay, let's discuss money because this is what you're wondering. Can you really earn income as a influencer? Absolutely. Is it simple? Absolutely not.

My first month, I made $0. Month two? Still nothing. Third month, I got my first collaboration—one hundred fifty dollars to post about a meal kit service. I cried real tears. That one-fifty bought groceries for two weeks.

Now, years later, here's how I monetize:

Sponsored Content: This is my biggest income source. I work with brands that fit my niche—things that help, single-parent resources, family items. I charge anywhere from $500-5K per deal, depending on what they need. Last month, I did four collabs and made eight thousand dollars.

Platform Payments: TikTok's creator fund pays not much—$200-$400 per month for millions of views. YouTube money is better. I make about $1.5K monthly from YouTube, but that required years.

Affiliate Income: I post links to products I actually use—anything from my favorite coffee maker to the beds my kids use. If anyone buys, I get a percentage. This brings in about $1K monthly.

Info Products: I created a single mom budget planner and a food prep planner. Each costs $15, and I sell fifty to a hundred per month. That's another $1,000-1,500.

Teaching Others: New creators pay me to show them how. I offer 1:1 sessions for two hundred per hour. I do about several a month.

Overall monthly earnings: Most months, I'm making $10,000-15,000 per month these days. Some months are higher, some are tougher. It's up and down, which is stressful when there's no backup. But it's three times what I made at my previous job, and I'm present.

What They Don't Show Nobody Talks About

This sounds easy until you're sobbing alone because a post tanked, or dealing with vicious comments from internet trolls.

The trolls are vicious. I've been called a bad mom, told I'm a bad influence, called a liar about being a divorced parent. One person said, "I'd leave too." That one destroyed me.

The algorithm changes constantly. Sometimes you're getting huge numbers. Then suddenly, you're struggling for views. Your income is unstable. You're always on, never resting, afraid to pause, you'll fall behind.

The mom guilt is intense times a thousand. Every video I post, I wonder: Is this appropriate? Am I doing right by them? Will they be angry about this when they're grown? I have non-negotiables—minimal identifying info, no sharing their private stuff, nothing humiliating. But the line is blurry sometimes.

The burnout hits hard. There are weeks when I am empty. When I'm depleted, socially drained, and at my limit. But the mortgage is due. So I push through.

The Unexpected Blessings

But listen—even with the struggles, this journey has blessed me with the post mentioned things I never dreamed of.

Financial stability for once in my life. I'm not wealthy, but I cleared $18K. I have an emergency fund. We took a vacation last summer—Disney World, which I never thought possible a couple years back. I don't dread checking my balance anymore.

Flexibility that's priceless. When my boy was sick last month, I didn't have to call in to work or stress about losing pay. I worked from the pediatrician's waiting room. When there's a school thing, I can go. I'm available in ways I couldn't be with a corporate job.

Community that saved me. The other influencers I've connected with, especially other moms, have become my people. We support each other, help each other, have each other's backs. My followers have become this family. They cheer for me, support me, and make me feel seen.

My own identity. Since becoming a mom, I have an identity. I'm not defined by divorce or somebody's mother. I'm a business owner. An influencer. Someone who created this.

Tips for Single Moms Wanting to Start

If you're a single parent curious about this, listen up:

Just start. Your first videos will suck. Mine did. That's okay. You grow through creating, not by waiting until everything is perfect.

Authenticity wins. People can spot fake. Share your true life—the unfiltered truth. That's what connects.

Protect your kids. Set boundaries early. Be intentional. Their privacy is non-negotiable. I keep names private, protect their faces, and never discuss anything that could embarrass them.

Don't rely on one thing. Diversify or one way to earn. The algorithm is unreliable. Multiple streams = safety.

Create in batches. When you have time alone, film multiple videos. Future you will thank present you when you're unable to film.

Build community. Answer comments. Check messages. Build real relationships. Your community is everything.

Track your time and ROI. Time is money. If something takes forever and gets nothing while something else takes 20 minutes and gets 200,000 views, adjust your strategy.

Take care of yourself. Self-care isn't selfish. Take breaks. Protect your peace. Your health matters more than views.

Give it time. This isn't a get-rich-quick scheme. It took me months to make real income. The first year, I made fifteen thousand. Year 2, $80K. Now, I'm on track for six figures. It's a marathon.

Know your why. On hard days—and trust me, there will be—remember your reason. For me, it's financial freedom, time with my children, and demonstrating that I'm capable of more than I thought possible.

Real Talk Time

Listen, I'm being honest. Content creation as a single mom is hard. Really hard. You're operating a business while being the sole caretaker of kids who need everything.

There are days I wonder what I'm doing. Days when the hate comments hurt. Days when I'm completely spent and asking myself if I should get a regular job with stability.

But then suddenly my daughter says she's happy I'm here. Or I see financial progress. Or I receive a comment from a follower saying my content helped her leave an unhealthy relationship. And I remember my purpose.

What's Next

Not long ago, I was broke, scared, and had no idea what to do. Currently, I'm a full-time content creator making more money than I ever did in my 9-5, and I'm home when my kids get off the school bus.

My goals for the future? Hit 500,000 followers by this year. Begin podcasting for solo parents. Possibly write a book. Keep growing this business that changed my life.

This journey gave me a lifeline when I needed it most. It gave me a way to support my kids, be there, and accomplish something incredible. It's not what I planned, but it's meant to be.

To all the single moms considering this: You can. It isn't simple. You'll consider quitting. But you're currently doing the hardest job—single parenting. You're powerful.

Jump in messy. Stay the course. Keep your boundaries. And know this, you're more than just surviving—you're building something incredible.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go create content about homework I forgot about and nobody told me until now. Because that's how it goes—content from the mess, one TikTok at a time.

Honestly. This journey? It's the best decision. Despite there's probably Goldfish crackers everywhere. No regrets, one messy video at a time.