Working remote with young kids at home - how do you set boundaries without feeling guilty?

I have two young kids and work fully remote. Most days I love it, but school breaks and random sick days are wrecking my routine and I'm running out of patience (and time).

On paper my day looks fine, but it gets shredded by tiny interruptions. I'll be mid-call and someone needs a snack, they start fighting, or one of them is bored and wants screen time. I end up doing a lot of the work after the kids are in bed, which leaves me feeling like a bad employee all day and a bad parent all night.

I've tried the usual: a sign on the door, noise-cancelling headphones, "quiet times," and short activities (coloring, Lego, etc.). They'll buy me 20 minutes, maybe, and then it's back to chaos. Screen time is the easiest fix, but I don't want the iPad to be the go-to every time I have a meeting.

For people who actually manage remote work with young kids at home, what has worked for you in the long run?

Specifically I'd love tips on:

- How you explain work boundaries to kids in a way they actually honor

- How you handle meetings when you're the only adult at home

- Routines or setups that cut down interruptions without relying on screens

Not looking for job-specific advice - just sanity-saving remote-work habits that actually feel doable.