Train Tracks, Toy Wrecks, and Toddler Mayhem: Confessions of a VA Mum
Picture this: I’m halfway through writing a critical email to a client, crafting the perfect response, when a familiar voice calls out, “Mummy, where’s the train with the blue wheels?!” Before I can even hit send, my role as Virtual Assistant transforms into Transport Supervisor, managing a fleet of toy trains under the strict oversight of my four-year-old.
Being a virtual assistant may sound like a peaceful, productive job, but add two children into the mix—a transport-obsessed four-year-old and an 18-month-old chaos agent I affectionately call The Menace—and suddenly my inbox isn’t the only thing needing urgent attention.
"Mummy, Can We Play Trains Now?" on Repeat
If I had a pound for every time I’ve heard, “Mummy, can we play trains now?” I’d be able to buy my own real-life railway. My son runs playtime like a full-scale operation, and train schedules are more serious to him than anything happening in my work inbox.
It doesn’t matter if I’m mid-sentence in an important email or tackling a client’s urgent task—his toy train empire must be managed immediately. I’ve had more in-depth discussions about rail infrastructure while responding to emails than most rail workers probably do. At this point, I could probably step in and manage Network Rail.
No deadline is too urgent to pause for a quick detour into the world of toy trains. “Mummy, the couch is the new station,” he says with all the authority of a railway engineer, and next thing I know, the living room has been transformed into a bustling train hub. My desk? That’s now Platform 1. The coffee table? The control centre. The sofa? Obviously, the main train station where all journeys begin.
Enter: The Menace
While my four-year-old is busy managing his transport empire, my 18-month-old daughter—fondly referred to as The Menace—has a very different role in this family circus. Her mission? Destruction, pure and simple.
Her main objective is to ensure that no train track, toy car, or railway station survives. My son’s meticulously arranged train set is her personal stomping ground, and she loves nothing more than to wreak absolute havoc. With the glee of a mini wrecking ball, she demolishes train tracks, hurls toy buses, and even tries to chew on the odd wooden train.
While my son attempts to explain the importance of track integrity—his face a picture of pure frustration—The Menace gleefully destroys whatever stands in her path while chuckling like a supervillain in nappies.
The Great Email Mishap
Just when I think I have things under control, The Menace sets her sights on my laptop. You haven’t truly lived until your 18-month-old has hit "send" on a half-finished email. Thankfully, this particular email wasn’t work-related—it was a rant aimed at Marks and Spencer's about why my 70-year-old mother's new furniture arrived looking like it had been in a duel.
Her favourite trick is sitting directly on my keyboard, adding 300 blank rows to spreadsheets and pounding the space bar with great enthusiasm. In her mind, I’m not really working unless she’s made a few creative additions of her own. And who am I to argue with that kind of dedication?
The Balancing Act of VA and Mum Life
Despite the toy train derailments, toddler-led email disasters, and constant requests to drop everything and play, I somehow manage to keep my work on track. Being a virtual assistant and a mum has taught me the ultimate balancing act—responding to client emails while fending off toy car crashes, and steering businesses forward while trying not to trip over stray trains.
So, if you need a virtual assistant who can run your business as efficiently as my son runs his railway network (minus the toy wrecks, of course), then look no further. Visit Virtually Yours Cheshire and let’s get your business on track—no derailments, I promise!
