Dream of running a successful business AND being a present parent? Here’s how.

You’re ambitious. You’re nurturing. You’re craving the freedom of running your own business but you also want to be there for school drop-offs, emotional wobbles, and sports day cheers. The good news? You can do both. It won’t always be easy, but it can absolutely be done, on your terms.

This is present parenting in real time.

Here’s how I make it work as a single working parent running a PR business while raising three children:

1. Set boundaries that work for you (not just your clients)

Working parents need clear boundaries to stay sane. Decide your working hours, and more importantly, your non-working hours. For me, I don’t take meetings before 9:30am or after 2:30pm. I do every school run. If I need to get things done, I’ll work early mornings or evenings. That’s my choice.

Protect the hours that matter most in your rhythm of life as both a business owner and a present parent.

2. Redefine what success looks like

Parents in business often find they need to unlearn old ideas of success. Time is your most valuable currency. You’re not working to clock hours or beg for annual leave, you’re building a business that fits around your life, not the other way around.

Present parenting means being able to say “yes” to the moments that matter. That’s success.

3. Know the school calendar like your launch plan

Get those school events in your diary early. Parents’ evenings, sports days, assemblies, half-term breaks, plan for them just like a product launch. This isn’t a side hustle to your parenting life, it’s all one beautiful, messy, connected ecosystem.

That’s the reality for parents in business.

4. Bring your kids into the dream

Tell your children you love your work—and that you’re the boss. Let them see what you're building. They’ll understand more than you think.

A friend told me her daughter once asked, “Why are you going to work, mummy?” She could have replied, “To pay the bills.” Instead, she said, “Because I want to. I love my job, and I’m good at it.” That’s the kind of message we want our children to hear from us as working parents.

5. Build a buffer

Freelancing and entrepreneurship have quiet spells. Expect them. Plan for them. I put a percentage of every invoice into a buffer pot so when things slow down, I’m not in panic mode. That kind of planning helps you stay present in business and at home.

Want to learn more about tips on becoming freelance? I shared my thoughts in this DAZED article.

6. Let the heat fuel you, not burn you

You didn’t start a business because you wanted the easy route. You started one because you wanted freedom. That fire in your belly? Trust it. It’ll carry you through when things get tough.

You’re not just a working parent, you’re an ambitious one. You’re an entrepreneur. If you have hit a stumbling block or faced challenges, you can read stories (including mine) of how entrepreneurs turned failure into fuel on FORBES. 

7. Accept you’ll miss out, and that’s OK

Parents in business can’t do it all. That dream project might not be right right now. I’ve twice turned down incredible international PR contracts because it would mean being away from my children for weeks. It hurt… but it was the right decision.

I’ll get many career chances. They get one childhood. That’s present parenting in action.

8. Know it won’t always feel perfect

You will get it wrong. You will drop balls. You’ll lose your patience. You’ll cry. That doesn’t mean you’re failing—it means you’re doing it all.

Working parents juggle more than most. Be kind to yourself.

9. Use childcare without guilt

Being a present parent doesn’t mean doing everything yourself. Use after-school clubs. Hire help. Book a babysitter. Go to that event. Recharge.

This is not about martyrdom. It’s about sustainability.

Faye Hatton Coaching: helping you play big in business and be present at home

Faye Hatton Coaching is for parents who are ready to run bold businesses without sacrificing the life they’re building for their family. My work is entirely bespoke. No cookie-cutter coaching. Just a powerful mix of strategy, honesty, and emotional intelligence, delivered with fire and softness in equal measure.

Want to explore what coaching could unlock for you?

Let’s talk. It might just be the boldest move you make this year.