5/19/25: Summer Boundaries for Moms in Business: How to Say No Without Guilt

Last week, I talked about the hustle of summer and managing your time. This week, I want to dig a little deeper and talk about boundaries in the summer. I’m a big fan of boundaries—clear and solid.

During the school year (often our busier season), it’s easy to say no because we have time as a convenient excuse. “It’s a church night.” “We’ve got late work and practice.” Insert whatever filler applies to your life. In the summer, especially for those of us working from home or staying home with kids, it feels harder to say no. There’s a pressure to lower your boundaries—sometimes from others, sometimes from yourself.

Here’s the truth: being home doesn’t mean you’re available.

If you work from home, you are working. Period. And in the summer? You’re working while making sure the little humans you created survive the day and get something nutritious between pool time and meltdowns. You probably don’t have time to coach the T-ball team, plan the event, or bake for the picnic. You’re maxed out.

Let me scream this from the mountaintop:

BEING A STAY-AT-HOME MOM IS A FULL-TIME JOB.

A 24/7, always-on-call, no-overtime-pay job. If a mom says no, she does not owe anyone an explanation. Her role is to care for her family—not to take on every extra because “she’s not working.”

And the woman running a business while raising a family? She’s not just the CEO—she’s the marketing team, finance department, scheduler, house manager, chef, and nurse. She cannot take on more just because she’s her own boss.

Some women will say yes to everything—they might love it or might need to do the boundary work. Others will say no because they’ve learned that clear, kind boundaries are an act of self-respect. One is not better than the other. Either way, support her. If she says yes, cheer her on. If she says no, respect it.

To the women constantly asked to do more because “they can”:

• You are allowed to say no.
• You do not have to justify your no.
• If it doesn’t align with your values or schedule, walk away from the guilt.

My challenge to you: Reach out to a woman in your life today. Thank her for something she’s done lately—chances are, it was one of a thousand things she was juggling.