Parenting is hard. Really hard. And anyone who tells you otherwise is either lying or blissfully unaware. For me, parenting while running a business and managing a chronic illness was…. well, overwhelming doesn’t even start to cover it. Some days, it felt like the world was piling demands on me from every angle, clients, family, chores, social expectations, and I was stretched so thin I couldn’t give my children what I truly wanted to give them, my presence, patience, and energy.
I reached a point where one more ‘Mom, can you…’ or one more rendition of the Haaland song was enough to send me over the edge. I had to walk away sometimes, guilt gnawing at me as I closed a door or took a deep breath in the bathroom, to only hear a ‘Mommm’ from outside the door. And that’s when it hit me: I was brilliant at setting boundaries for my clients, but I hadn’t set any for myself at home.
Learning from Business
In my work, I help business owners protect their time, define clear expectations, and deliver their best work without burning out. I watched them transform, less stress, more focus, happier clients, and I realised I could apply similar principles to parenting.
Boundaries at home weren’t about being strict or controlling. They were about survival. They were about showing up fully for my children, instead of showing up drained, anxious, and resentful. I needed structure, not just for them, but for me.
How I Started Setting Boundaries
Start Small, Stay Clear
I didn’t overhaul everything overnight. I began small, specific rules that made life manageable. ‘We tidy toys before moving on to something new’ or making them responsible for small chores such as taking their own plates out after tea. Clear expectations meant fewer clashes and less mental load for me.
Explain Why
Kids are smart, so I treated them this way. I started telling them reasons behind the boundaries ‘We put screens away before bed so our brains can rest’ and explaining why I wanted to make changes within the house so that I could be the best Mom for them. Suddenly, rules became agreements, not punishments.
Consistency, not perfection
Boundaries only work if they are consistent. I had to remind myself (and still do frequently) that missing a beat doesn’t make me a bad parent, it just means I needed to reset and try again, same as I do when something within my business doesn’t work.
Model What You Expect
If I wanted them to respect limits, I had to respect mine. That meant taking breaks, asking for help, and showing that everyone’s needs, including mine, mattered.
Self Compassion
Some days setting boundaries doesn’t work and I feel like I have failed. But boundaries are a skill, not a switch. Every attempt, every time something didn’t work how I wanted it to, taught me how to parent more intentionally, without feeling guilty, and how different things could work for my family.
The Difference It Made
Setting boundaries transformed our family life. My children are a little more independent, respectful, and aware of limits, not just mine but are learning their own limits. I became calmer, more present, and able to handle parenting, illness, and a business without teetering on an edge I always thought I would fall off. I finally realised, boundaries aren’t just rules, they’re love in action. They are a way to protect your mental health while showing your children that care, respect, and balance matter.
Final Thoughts
The truth? Parenting without boundaries for me is exhausting. Parenting with guilt free boundaries was a life changing event. By taking the same lessons I teach my clients, clarity, consistency, and care and applying them at home, I found a way to parent with intention, protect my own mental health, and model balance for my children. It’s still messy, imperfect, and sometimes still overwhelming, but it’s real. And for me, that’s everything.
About the Author
Hannah Cornaby is a mom of two children 7 and 6, living the daily juggle of parenting, running a business, and managing a chronic illness. She knows what it feels like to be stretched too thing and how easy it is to put yourself last. Through her work at Virtual Turtle, she helps businesses set clear boundaries and build better client experience, but at home, she’s learning that similar boundaries are the key to protecting her mental health and being the parent she wants to be.