Running a creative business is demanding enough on its own. Add parenting into the mix, and you've got a juggling act that would make a circus performer nervous. Whether you're dealing with toddler tantrums during client calls or missing bedtime stories because of late-night deadlines, the struggle to balance both roles is real and exhausting.

The good news? You're not the first creative parent to face this challenge, and you certainly won't be the last. Many successful creative business owners have walked this path before you, learning valuable lessons along the way about what works, what doesn't, and what they'd do differently given the chance.

This question was answered by Simon Lee, Chief Creative Officer and joint owner at The Hallway, with over a decade of experience building a successful creative agency whilst raising two children, and Ash King, psychologist and cyberpsychology researcher at the University of Sydney, who specialises in mental health support for creatives and understands the unique pressures of balancing professional and personal responsibilities. Andy Wright served as host, founder of Never Not Creative and CEO of Streamtime.

The reality check: it gets easier (but starts hard)

Let's be honest about the early years. Simon reflects on starting his business when his children were just two and three years old: "It's a lot easier now to be balancing running a business with parenting with two teenagers than it was when I had a three and a two-year-old."

Those early years are genuinely tough. You're building a business that needs constant attention whilst caring for little humans who also need constant attention. The key is knowing that this phase, whilst intense, is temporary.

Find your true north

The most important thing you can do is get crystal clear about your priorities. Simon emphasises this point: "It really comes down to just consciously prioritising and having an ongoing true sense of what really matters, what's really important."

Your business matters, yes. It provides for your family and fulfils your creative ambitions. But as Simon puts it: "Nothing is more valuable than the time with your kids and being there for those important moments." This isn't about choosing one over the other, it's about being intentional with both.

Master the art of psychological detachment

Ash introduces a game-changing concept: psychological detachment. This means being fully present in whatever role you're playing at that moment. "I've tried to allow myself to work when I'm working and create space and conditions where my kid is being taken care of, so I can allow myself to really commit to doing the work that I want to do well."

When you're working, work properly. When you're parenting, parent properly. "When that time is over, I psychologically detach from my work, I allow the laptop to close, and I shift over, bring my attention back to my family."

This approach helps both areas of your life. As Ash explains: "Each of those spheres allow me to refresh from the other. Sometimes I need a break from mumming, so I go into work and I'm allowed to be my working self, use my mind, use my creativity."

Remember: clients are human too

Here's something that might surprise you. When work demands clash with family moments, don't assume the client won't understand. Simon shares a valuable insight: "If you've got someone on your team saying 'no, it must happen tonight, the client says so', I've often said 'I'll just give the client a call' and say 'hey look, I'm really sorry but it's my kid's birthday party or their end of year concert', and the chances are they totally understand."

Most clients are parents themselves. They get it. That end-of-year concert only happens once, but there are plenty of meeting slots in a day.

Learn from the misses

Both Simon and Andy share moments they missed due to work commitments. Simon admits: "There are definitely times where I'd be receiving these wonderful text messages from my wife showing her and the kids having a lovely time on the beach, and I was just nose to the grindstone trying to win the next pitch."

Andy recalls missing his daughter's first steps because a client changed a meeting time. These experiences, whilst painful, became turning points: "That was when I said no, never gonna let that happen again."

Managing the guilt

The guilt of feeling like you're letting someone down, whether family or colleagues, is perhaps the hardest part. Andy acknowledges this: "The guilt bit of not feeling like you're letting someone down whether it's your family or your colleagues is the bit to just start to get comfortable with."

Remember, you're not failing anyone by having boundaries. You're modelling healthy behaviour and showing that both your family and your business matter.

Connect with other creative parents

You don't have to figure this out alone. Never Not Creative's Circles programme connects creatives facing similar challenges in supportive, confidential peer groups. These monthly sessions provide a safe space to share experiences, learn practical strategies, and remember you're not the only one trying to balance creative ambitions with family life. The programme includes both face-to-face sessions and ongoing community support. Learn more about Circles here.

The long view

As Simon wisely notes: "You hear these wonderful stories of people as they get to the end of their life going 'what's the stuff that you really want, if you had your time again what would you do?' No one says I would like to spend more time at work. Everyone says I'd have liked more time with the people that I love, and there's no one that you love more than your kids."

Your creative business can thrive alongside your role as a parent. It takes conscious effort, clear boundaries, and the occasional difficult conversation, but it's absolutely possible. Be kind to yourself during the learning process, celebrate the small wins, and remember that both your children and your business benefit from having a parent who pursues their creative passions with intention and balance.

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