Mother part-time jobs in 2025 : clearly discussed to women entrepreneurs earn financial freedom

Here's the tea, mom life is a whole vibe. But plot twist? Working to make some extra cash while dealing with children who have boundless energy while I'm running on fumes.

I started my side hustle journey about several years ago when I realized that my Target runs were reaching dangerous levels. I needed some independent income.

The Virtual Assistant Life

Okay so, my first gig was doing VA work. And honestly? It was chef's kiss. It let me get stuff done when the house was finally peaceful, and the only requirement was my trusty MacBook and a prayer.

I began by basic stuff like organizing inboxes, managing social content, and basic admin work. Super simple stuff. I charged about fifteen dollars an hour, which seemed low but for someone with zero experience, you gotta start somewhere.

The funniest part? I'd be on a video meeting looking like I had my life together from the waist up—looking corporate—while wearing my rattiest leggings. That's the dream honestly.

My Etsy Journey

After getting my feet wet, I decided to try the whole Etsy thing. Everyone and their mother seemed to sell stuff on Etsy, so I was like "why not get in on this?"

I began creating downloadable organizers and wall art. The thing about selling digital stuff? One and done creation, and it can sell forever. For real, I've earned money at midnight when I'm unconscious.

That initial sale? I lost my mind. My partner was like I'd injured myself. Negative—just me, doing a happy dance for my first a simple overview five bucks. Judge me if you want.

Blogging and Creating

Then I got into the whole influencer thing. This particular side gig is a marathon not a sprint, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it.

I started a mom blog where I posted about the chaos of parenting—all of it, no filter. None of that Pinterest-perfect life. Simply authentic experiences about surviving tantrums in Target.

Building traffic was a test of patience. At the beginning, I was basically talking to myself. But I persisted, and over time, things took off.

These days? I make money through affiliate marketing, brand partnerships, and advertisements on my site. Last month I generated over $2,000 from my blog income. Crazy, right?

SMM Side Hustle

When I became good with running my own socials, brands started inquiring if I could manage their accounts.

Here's the thing? Many companies suck at social media. They realize they need a presence, but they're clueless about the algorithm.

That's where I come in. I currently run social media for three local businesses—a bakery, a boutique, and a fitness studio. I create content, queue up posts, engage with followers, and check their stats.

I charge between $500-1500 per month per account, depending on the scope of work. Here's what's great? I handle this from my iPhone.

Freelance Writing Life

For those who can string sentences together, content writing is seriously profitable. Not like writing the next Great American Novel—I mean blog posts, articles, website copy, product descriptions.

Businesses everywhere always need writers. My assignments have included everything from dental hygiene to copyright. Being an expert isn't required, you just need to be good at research.

On average make $50-150 per article, depending on the topic and length. Some months I'll write a dozen articles and make $1-2K.

The funny thing is: I was that student who thought writing was torture. These days I'm making money from copyright. The irony.

The Online Tutoring Thing

During the pandemic, everyone needed online help. With my teaching background, so this was an obvious choice.

I started working with VIPKid and Tutor.com. It's super flexible, which is absolutely necessary when you have unpredictable little ones.

I mostly tutor elementary reading and math. The pay ranges from $15-$25/hour depending on which site you use.

The funny thing? Occasionally my children will burst into the room mid-session. I've literally had to educate someone's child while mine had a meltdown. My clients are usually super understanding because they're living the same life.

Reselling and Flipping

Okay, this particular venture happened accidentally. I was decluttering my kids' stuff and put some things on Facebook Marketplace.

Things sold so fast. Lightbulb moment: people will buy anything.

At this point I hit up estate sales and thrift shops, searching for name brands. I purchase something for three bucks and flip it for thirty.

It's labor-intensive? Yes. It's a whole process. But it's oddly satisfying about finding a gem at the thrift store and making money.

Also: my children are fascinated when I find unique items. Just last week I scored a rare action figure that my son freaked out about. Made $45 on it. Mom for the win.

Real Talk Time

Truth bomb incoming: this stuff requires effort. There's work involved, hence the name.

There are moments when I'm running on empty, wondering why I'm doing this. I'm up at 5am being productive before the madness begins, then doing all the mom stuff, then more hustle time after the kids are asleep.

But here's the thing? That money is MINE. I'm not asking anyone to splurge on something nice. I'm contributing to the family budget. My kids are learning that moms can do anything.

Tips if You're Starting Out

If you want to start a side hustle, this is what I've learned:

Start with one thing. You can't do everything at once. Start with one venture and master it before expanding.

Work with your schedule. Your available hours, that's fine. Even one focused hour is valuable.

Don't compare yourself to what you see online. Everyone you're comparing yourself to? They put in years of work and has resources you don't see. Run your own race.

Don't be afraid to invest, but wisely. You don't need expensive courses. Avoid dropping huge money on programs until you've tested the waters.

Do similar tasks together. This saved my sanity. Dedicate specific days for specific tasks. Monday might be writing day. Use Wednesday for administrative work.

Dealing with Mom Guilt

Let me be honest—guilt is part of this. Sometimes when I'm hustling and my child is calling for me, and I feel guilty.

But I remind myself that I'm showing them that hard work matters. I'm teaching my kids that you can be both.

Also? Financial independence has made me a better mom. I'm more fulfilled, which translates to better parenting.

Income Reality Check

The real numbers? Generally, total from all sources, I earn $3K-5K. It varies, some are tougher.

Is this getting-rich money? Nope. But it's paid for vacations, home improvements, and that emergency vet bill that would've stressed us out. It's creating opportunities and knowledge that could become a full-time thing.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, hustling as a mom is challenging. You won't find a perfect balance. Most days I'm making it up as I go, surviving on coffee, and doing my best.

But I'm proud of this journey. Every penny made is validation of my effort. It's proof that I'm not just someone's mother.

If you're thinking about diving into this? Go for it. Begin before you're ready. Your tomorrow self will thank you.

Don't forget: You're not just making it through—you're building something. Even though you probably have mysterious crumbs in your workspace.

No cap. This mom hustle life is pretty amazing, complete with all the chaos.

Surviving to Thriving: My Journey as a Single Mom

Here's the truth—single motherhood wasn't on my vision board. I also didn't plan on becoming a content creator. But here we are, three years into this wild journey, earning income by creating content while raising two kids basically solo. And not gonna lie? It's been life-changing in every way of my life.

Rock Bottom: When Everything Came Crashing Down

It was a few years ago when my divorce happened. I remember sitting in my new apartment (I kept the kids' stuff, he took everything else), unable to sleep at 2am while my kids were finally quiet. I had $847 in my checking account, little people counting on me, and a paycheck that wasn't enough. The stress was unbearable, y'all.

I'd been scrolling TikTok to numb the pain—because that's self-care at 2am, right? when everything is chaos, right?—when I found this woman sharing how she paid off $30,000 in debt through posting online. I remember thinking, "That can't be real."

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

I got the TikTok app the next morning. My first video? No filter, no makeup, pure chaos, venting about how I'd just used my last twelve bucks on a cheap food for my kids' school lunches. I hit post and panicked. Who wants to watch this disaster?

Spoiler alert, way more people than I expected.

That video got nearly 50,000 views. Nearly fifty thousand people watched me get emotional over processed meat. The comments section turned into this safe space—people who got it, other people struggling, all saying "same." That was my turning point. People didn't want perfect. They wanted authentic.

My Brand Evolution: The Honest Single Parent Platform

The truth is about content creation: your niche matters. And my niche? I stumbled into it. I became the real one.

I started sharing the stuff everyone keeps private. Like how I once wore the same yoga pants for four days straight because I couldn't handle laundry. Or when I fed my kids cereal for dinner multiple nights and called it "cereal week." Or that moment when my daughter asked why we don't live with dad, and I had to talk about complex things to a kid who believes in magic.

My content wasn't pretty. My lighting was awful. I filmed on a busted phone. But it was unfiltered, and evidently, that's what hit.

Within two months, I hit 10K. Month three, 50K. By half a year, I'd crossed 100,000. Each milestone blew my mind. People who wanted to listen to me. Me—a barely surviving single mom who had to figure this out from zero not long ago.

The Actual Schedule: Content Creation Meets Real Life

Here's the reality of my typical day, because content creation as a single mom is nothing like those curated "day in the life" videos you see.

5:30am: My alarm screams. I do absolutely not want to wake up, but this is my sacred content creation time. I make coffee that will get cold, and I start filming. Sometimes it's a morning routine sharing about single mom finances. Sometimes it's me prepping lunches while venting about co-parenting struggles. The lighting is whatever natural light comes through my kitchen window.

7:00am: Kids wake up. Content creation ends. Now I'm in full mom mode—making breakfast, hunting for that one shoe (seriously, always ONE), making lunch boxes, stopping fights. The chaos is intense.

8:30am: Getting them to school. I'm that mom making videos while driving at red lights. Don't judge me, but content waits for no one.

9:00am-2:00pm: This is my hustle time. House is quiet. I'm in editing mode, replying to DMs, brainstorming content ideas, doing outreach, looking at stats. They believe content creation is just posting videos. Absolutely not. It's a full business.

I usually create multiple videos on certain days. That means filming 10-15 videos in a few hours. I'll change shirts between videos so it seems like separate days. Hot tip: Keep different outfits accessible for fast swaps. My neighbors think I've lost it, talking to my camera in the parking lot.

3:00pm: School pickup. Transition back to mom mode. But this is where it's complicated—many times my biggest hits come from these after-school moments. Recently, my daughter had a complete meltdown in Target because I said no to a expensive toy. I made content in the parking lot later about surviving tantrums as a single parent. It got over 2 million views.

Evening: Dinner, homework, bath time, bedtime routines. I'm typically drained to create content, but I'll schedule uploads, check DMs, or prep for tomorrow. Certain nights, after bedtime, I'll stay up editing because a partnership is due.

The truth? Balance doesn't exist. It's just managed chaos with occasional wins.

Income Breakdown: How I Generate Income

Okay, let's talk dollars because this is what you're wondering. Can you actually make money as a creator? Yes. Is it simple? Nope.

My first month, I made nothing. Second month? $0. Third month, I got my first paid partnership—$150 to post about a meal kit service. I broke down. That one-fifty bought groceries for two weeks.

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

Brand Partnerships: This is my main revenue. I work with brands that fit my niche—things that help, single-parent resources, kid essentials. I ask for anywhere from five hundred to several thousand per partnership, depending on the scope. Just last month, I did four collabs and made eight grand.

Ad Money: Creator fund pays basically nothing—$200-$400 per month for millions of views. YouTube revenue is better. I make about $1,500/month from YouTube, but that took two years to build up.

Link Sharing: I share links to stuff I really use—ranging from my favorite coffee maker to the kids' beds. If anyone buys, I get a commission. This brings in about $800-1,200 monthly.

Downloadables: I created a financial planner and a meal prep guide. $15 apiece, and I sell dozens per month. That's another thousand to fifteen hundred.

Consulting Services: Aspiring influencers pay me to teach them the ropes. I offer consulting calls for $200/hour. I do about 5-10 a month.

Total monthly income: Most months, I'm making $10-15K per month these days. Some months are higher, some are less. It's inconsistent, which is scary when there's no backup. But it's 3x what I made at my 9-5, and I'm available for my kids.

What They Don't Show Nobody Shows You

From the outside it's great until you're sobbing alone because a post got no views, or managing cruel messages from internet trolls.

The negativity is intense. I've been told I'm a terrible parent, told I'm using my children, accused of lying about being a solo parent. Someone once commented, "I'd leave too." That one stung for days.

The algorithm is unpredictable. One week you're getting viral hits. Next month, you're getting nothing. Your income fluctuates. You're never off, 24/7, nervous about slowing down, you'll lose relevance.

The guilt is crushing times a thousand. Each post, I wonder: Is this appropriate? Am I doing right by them? Will they regret this when they're adults? I have strict rules—no faces of my kids without permission, no discussing their personal struggles, no embarrassing content. But the line is blurry sometimes.

The burnout hits hard. Sometimes when I have nothing. When I'm depleted, socially drained, and totally spent. But rent doesn't care. So I show up anyway.

The Wins

But the truth is—despite the hard parts, this journey has blessed me with things I never expected.

Financial freedom for the first time in my life. I'm not rich, but I became debt-free. I have an emergency fund. We took a actual vacation last summer—Orlando, which was a dream two years ago. I don't dread checking my balance anymore.

Schedule freedom that's priceless. When my child had a fever last month, I didn't have to stress about missing work or lose income. I worked from the pediatrician's waiting room. When there's a school thing, I'm there. I'm in their lives in ways I couldn't be with a normal job.

Support that saved me. The fellow creators I've connected with, especially other moms, have become my people. We talk, collaborate, encourage each other. My followers have become this amazing support system. They support me, send love, and make me feel seen.

My own identity. For the first time since having kids, I have something for me. I'm more than an ex or only a parent. I'm a CEO. A content creator. A person who hustled.

What I Wish I Knew

If you're a solo parent considering content creation, listen up:

Just start. Your first videos will be terrible. Mine did. It's fine. You learn by doing, not by waiting.

Be authentic, not perfect. People can smell fake from a mile away. Share your actual life—the messy, imperfect, chaotic reality. That resonates.

Prioritize their privacy. Create rules. Be intentional. Their privacy is non-negotiable. I protect their names, protect their faces, and protect their stories.

Diversify income streams. Diversify or one revenue source. The algorithm is unpredictable. Multiple income streams = stability.

Batch create content. When you have available time, record several. Tomorrow you will thank yourself when you're too exhausted to create.

Connect with followers. Engage. Respond to DMs. Be real with them. Your community is what matters.

Analyze performance. Time is money. If something takes forever and tanks while another video takes no time and gets massive views, shift focus.

Self-care matters. Self-care isn't selfish. Take breaks. Set boundaries. Your health matters most.

Stay patient. This requires patience. It took me half a year to make meaningful money. Year one, I made fifteen thousand. The second year, $80K. Year 3, I'm making six figures. It's a marathon.

Know your why. On bad days—and they happen—remember your reason. For me, it's money, time with my children, and validating that I'm capable of anything.

Real Talk Time

Here's the deal, I'm keeping it 100. Being a single mom creator is difficult. Like, really freaking hard. You're operating a business while being the lone caretaker of demanding little people.

Certain days I question everything. Days when the trolls hurt. Days when I'm drained and asking myself if I should quit this with consistent income.

But then suddenly my daughter mentions she loves that I'm home. Or I look at my savings. Or I get a DM from a follower saying my content inspired her. And I understand the impact.

Where I'm Going From Here

Three years ago, I was terrified and clueless how to survive. Currently, I'm a full-time content creator making way more than I made in corporate America, and I'm there for my kids.

My goals for the future? Get to half a million followers by this year. Begin podcasting for solo parents. Maybe write a book. Keep building this business that gives me freedom, flexibility, and financial stability.

This path gave me a second chance when I needed it most. It gave me a way to feed my babies, be there, and build something I'm genuinely proud of. It's unexpected, but it's where I belong.

To every solo parent on the fence: You can. It will be challenging. You'll doubt yourself. But you're currently doing the most difficult thing—single parenting. You're more capable than you know.

Start messy. Be consistent. Keep your boundaries. And know this, you're not just surviving—you're building something incredible.

Gotta go now, I need to go make a video about homework I forgot about and surprise!. Because that's the reality—making content from chaos, one post at a time.

Honestly. Being a single mom creator? It's the best decision. Despite there's probably Goldfish crackers in my keyboard. Dream life, mess included.