There's a moment that changes everything. For me, it was staring at a positive pregnancy test with tears streaming down my face—not just from joy, but from fear.
The Weight of "Not Enough"
I'm currently working a 9-5 that pays the bills. Barely. The kind of job where you count down the days until payday and pray nothing unexpected happens. And now, something very expected is happening—I'm pregnant, with about 5 months until my due date, and the anxiety about how we'll afford everything is real.
I lie awake some nights doing mental math:
- Daycare costs (more than my car payment)
- Diapers, formula, clothes they'll outgrow in weeks
- Whether I can actually afford to take my full maternity leave
- What happens after—do I go back to a job that barely covers childcare?
I refuse to feel like a failure before I even start as a mom.
The Moment Everything Shifted
One night, I was scrolling through TikTok (as you do when you can't sleep and your mind is racing), and I stumbled onto a live from Pretty Hustle. She was talking about digital products—things you create once and sell over and over. No trading hours for dollars. No asking permission to take your kid to the doctor.
I'd seen stuff like this before and always rolled my eyes. Another "get rich quick" scheme. But something about the way she explained it clicked. She wasn't selling a dream—she was showing a real path.
That night, I decided I was done waiting for permission to build the life I wanted.
Starting While Still Working
I'm not going to pretend I have this all figured out. I don't. I'm literally building this business while working full-time and growing a human. Some days I'm exhausted. Some days I doubt everything.
But I had to start somewhere:
- A phone and a laptop
- Early mornings and late nights after work
- A burning need to create options for my family
- Google, YouTube, and TikTok as my free business school
I started creating digital products—things I wished existed when I started looking for ways to make extra money. Planners, trackers, guides. Things that could help other moms like me.
Where I Am Right Now
I'm not going to tell you I've "made it." I haven't. I'm still in the messy middle.
But here's what I'm building toward:
- Taking my FULL maternity leave without financial panic
- Having the option to not go back to my 9-5 if I don't want to
- Building something that grows even when I'm up at 3 AM with a newborn
- Showing my baby that their mom built something of her own
The anxiety isn't gone. But now it's mixed with hope and action.
Why I'm Sharing This Now
I'm not sharing this as a success story. I'm sharing it as a "right now" story.
Because if you're reading this with that same knot in your stomach—the one that says "I don't have enough" and "I don't know how"—I want you to know you're not alone. I'm right there with you.
You don't need to have it all figured out. You don't need a business degree or a huge following or the perfect idea.
You need to start. Messy, scared, imperfect action.
Your baby (or future baby, or the life you want) is worth the uncomfortable first steps.
Let's Build Together
I created Pretty Mamas Making Money because I wish someone had handed me a roadmap when I was drowning in anxiety and endless Google searches.
If you're ready to start but don't know where to begin:
- Grab my free Side Hustle Ideas for Moms guide
- Pick ONE idea that excites you
- Take ONE small action this week
I'm building this plane while flying it, and I'm documenting the whole journey. Follow along, and let's figure this out together. 💕
— Sheena