Business Mom: The “Lifesaver” in American Single-Mom Life
I’m inspired by my friend. She lives in America without parents nearby, without a husband—raising her daughter on her own. And yet, she always has money, and not just enough to get by.
Three years ago, she gave birth and lost her job. You would think the money ran out there—but it didn’t. She remembered what she had studied and loved in her youth, consulted friends, gathered information online, and trained in a field that many considered questionable in terms of career prospects. But she hit the jackpot. This specialty made her a successful business mom—her personal “lifesaver” in American single-mom life.
And the Child?
The beauty of it is that now she is her own boss. She sets her own schedule.
She lives in a small town in Illinois, where she moved after her divorce. There’s simply no work for a former elementary school teacher from Russia. But thanks to the internet, finding clients for her business turned out to be surprisingly easy. She posted ads on Facebook, and within weeks, she was “back to work.” I watched it all happen and realized her experience could inspire our readers.
So, here’s my interview with Svetlana.
Q: How did it all begin? What business did you start, and in what field in America is there always work? How did the idea of becoming a “business mom” come about?
Svetlana: The idea came by chance. After moving to my small town, I wrote to my mom describing the place, which, after Moscow and Chicago, seemed like a village. She asked about work, and jokingly, I wrote that there was practically no work, nothing to do—but plenty of children. Then I paused. Slowly reading the phrase again—“no work, but plenty of children”—it hit me: How can there be no work when there are so many children?
From there, I dove into the internet. I asked myself: “What can I do? What skills do I have? What can I learn quickly? What do parents need and would pay for?” I read dozens of articles on businesses for moms and received hundreds of tips from “Uncle Google.” Then I came across two potential paths that clicked immediately: Art Educator for kids and Computer Educator for kids—teaching in your own art or computer school.
Bingo! This was exactly what I was looking for. I had studied art in college, attended art school as a child, and knew how to work with kids.
All that was left was to learn how children are taught in America, train myself, and obtain a certificate to show parents that I was qualified—so I wouldn’t embarrass myself.
Q: And the certificate?
Svetlana: I was lucky. I discovered from friends that there’s a college in America where you can study various computer programs and teaching techniques online. It’s the only college in America offering a unique series of certificate programs “Business Ideas for Moms”, designed for moms like me who don’t want a 9-to-5 job, who dream of financial independence, and who want to run their own business on their own schedule. The college is New Image College of Design and Technology (www.newimagecollege.com). One of the college’s special features is that each student has a personal consultant who speaks their native language.
Q: Online learning for art? Really?
Svetlana: Absolutely! You can learn anything online now—even piano or guitar. It depends on how the program is structured. At New Image College, I loved how organized it was: video lessons, audio lectures, online textbooks, consultations with Russian-speaking instructors, and optional summer workshops.
To earn my certificate, I had to complete twelve courses. I even accelerated my studies and took an express course at the college’s main office in Canada to finish by August, so I could start my business in September. It was intense: my mom stayed with my daughter while I spent a month in Canada attending classes daily, including weekends. I learned so much, practiced countless techniques, and by the end, I felt like a professional ready to work.
Starting the Business
From there, everything fell into place. I found a space, advertised on Facebook and Google, and launched my business. The college provided not just knowledge but also ready-to-use teaching materials, activity kits for the first year, and a fully functional website, which we were trained to update. I was ready for business!
Q: And financially? How much does a “business mom” make?
Svetlana: I’m very satisfied with my earnings. I make more per day than my ex-husband, who worked in home renovations in Chicago and rarely earned more than $250 a day. How much you earn depends on you—or me. The better your skills and the more time you invest, the more you make.
Some of my peers have scaled their businesses dramatically: one opened three new art school locations in her second year, another started a coding school for children in New Jersey and has a year-long waiting list. I haven’t reached that scale yet, but I already get calls from neighboring towns asking if I plan to open a branch.
Svetlana smiled mischievously: “No, I’ll open a branch but I won’t go there. I’ll raise the price and hire a teacher. I’m the boss, after all, right?”
