Vipers' nest? Come counter our hissy rep with your stories of Mumsnet Niceness

And the clinging together when children go on school trips to forrin parts Piste.

In for another....

Really kind hearted folk sending all sorts of stuff from bedding to uniforms and baby stuff. stuff they no longer need, but others do.

The amazing support on the weight-loss threads - just awesome

The amazing support on running threads, this a Woolly Hugs one but there are so many others, all brilliant, here

Thank you to Mumsnet for all the inspiring and simply fabulous friends I have made who are now good friends in real life too.

For finding fellow gin lovers! Huzzah! I was alone in my love for gin until I found you MNHQ [hearts]

I may well be back......

Nickelbabe's live birth thread was brilliant. Well it spanned 4 threads in the end I think. Everyone willing her on.

Oh. Dear. God. Still new to Mumsnet (second day). Is it always like this?? These women could move mountains, conquer the globe, wipe out war (and start some). In my head I have a marvellous fantasy experiment of the Cabinet being made up of MN women. It would only take a week. And this was merely from one thread about Yoni massage...

Whenever I need any help with ANYTHING be it sensitive personal stuff or unimportant stuff like getting static out of a dress just before a wedding. I come here.

My mum died 8 years ago when DC1 was 6 months old. All the questions I imagine I should be asking her, I ask (or search the archive) here.

Mumsnet has literally become my mum.

I love the way that MNers go out of their way to help and make a difference in big, important and scary situations. But I also like when they go out of their way to help with something seemingly unimportant or trivial that makes a huge difference, often to DCs.

I particularly enjoyed the saga of the family tuna where MNers sourced and kitted out a soft toy caterpillar to fit with a lovely story invented by a DC so said her toy caterpillar's Dad was away fighting a war. Said caterpillar then hitched a ride on Santa's sleigh complete with parachute.

There was another pre Christmas thread where a poster had tried to get her 3 DC matching Spiderman onsies from a supermarket. She had managed to get two but the third was out of stock and Mners from all over searched their local stores until one was found.

Mumsnet Lovelies?

The Woolly Hugs crew - the most inspirational, compassionate and generous hearted bunch of folk who never fail to amaze, at home and from as far away as New Zealand, Thailand, Middle East, Canada, all corners of the globe.

They genuinely care so much for others, they give up time, money and energy because they want to help. You won't always see it either, it's not done for show. They never shy away from things that are difficult or challenging - actually look at what Woolly Hugs does, it's not easy.

It just shows how many wonderful people there are here, who go out of their way to be kind, restores your faith in humanity it does. Lots of photos of things lovely folk have made here

This from one of our recipients..

In our darkest days true love and compassion came from others whom we have yet to know but feel I can call friends

Nest of vipers? My arse, and I feel very protective. Mumsnet is a proper community with a heart of gold. Occasional spiky edges, yes, but its heart couldn't be bigger or beat more strongly.

MN helped me to see that I was not the only one finding it tough with a new born and a broken down episiotomy. I learned how to have a pain free wee and since then I've been entertained daily by this amazing gathering of funny and clever women. Makes me a bit cross seeing mumsnet bad mouthed in the press really. I think it's wonderful. And you can do swears.

I can't tell you all the wonderful things about Mumsnet, there are just too many to write about. I remember in my early days, 'watching' misdee's DH have his transplant and waiting, with baited breath, for the post to say he was ok. I remember the 'Peter's pink' post so well. Never before had I felt so connected & worried about a family I'd never met. All these women, like me, who'd never met Peter & probably never would, sitting, waiting for news. And now, years later, I still think about that. Other tragedies too - Yorkiegirl's DH, Expat's beautiful DD, ggglimpo's Maude... so many awful things that made so many of us pull together and lead to such long lasting friendships.

There's all the lovely happy things too, the day-to day stuff. And obviously the Christmas appeal. I've donated in the past and, for the first time, was nominated last year. I was so touched... it had been a truly awful year and it made my day to know that someone had noticed & thought of us enough to nominate us. And then the kind soul who spent their money and sent a gift for my family which is truly cherished. I often think about that - the kindness of a random stranger.

More personally, mumsnet has been a life-saver. Literally. It has been there through my horrendous divorce, an awful custody battle, serious mental health problems and chronic illness. I honestly don't know where I'd be without the support and advice of MNers. There's always someone here who will be able to offer helpful advice or who will just keep me company & chat to me in the wee small hours when then rest of the world is sleeping & only the insomniacs or people with small babies are about.

I know that there'll always be someone on Mumsnet who will know the answer to my dull questions about which steam cleaner to buy or where to get decent bed linen or slightly odd questions that google cannot help me with. There will always be someone who has been in a similar situation & makes you feel less bonkers by admitting it

I'm not in a good way at the moment & it's hard for me to gather my thoughts and type, so this is not eloquent (although I did try to check my spelling, use paragraphs and no text speak ). I deactivated my FB account yesterday but have had 8 MNers contact me to see if I am ok. What's that, if not a caring community? Honestly, for all the high-profile bitchiness, trolls and negative stories that are picked up on in the media, there must be hundred of positive things that go unreported.

I am a long-time MNer & have no plans to leave. Certain MNers have become some of my very good friends in RL & I am thankful for everything.

AND, The Fonz spoke to me first in his webchat and Yotam Ottolenghi answered my question & wished me well. Hurrah!

There are so many good things about Mumsnet, here are just a few.

The generosity of Mumsnetters is a wonderful thing. I've seen so many kind of offers of practical help, food, baby stuff, toys, lifts, somewhere to stay, etc.

When I had a lump in my breast I received so much support that I really needed as I had no-one to discuss my fears with in real life.

The kind words and just knowing people were there when my dad died.

I bloody love this nest of vipers.

Oh, and the nicknames - you couldn't make them up!

But I don't own any Uggs. :(

MN is like being in the company of the wisest, kindest, funniest friends who are never tired, never bored and endlessly inventive.
I have made lovely friends here, cried over children I never met,laughed myself silly and even found a spectacular member of staff

I particularly love the 'hive mind' which can come up with a solution to a problem, tell you whether YABU, dress you, feed you, improve your sex life and help you buy kitchen appliances.

And of course I love the generosity and support, from the major projects like Billie's Blankets, to tiny things like someone being there in the middle of the night when you are in pain or worried.

It is more than just a website, a forum or 'words on a screen'. It is a proper, real community and I thank you all for allowing me to be part of it.

The tamoxifen thread - when I was diagnosed and now treated for breast cancer. The most pragmatic, sensible and sensitive group of women.

Oh and I got a bloody 1700 quid fridge freezer courtesy of mumsnet. I mean Jesus Christ!

Couldn't do without mn.
Support on here is immense.

Mn has got me through my mums funeral, ivf and marriage issues to mention a few things in the 5 years I've been on here.

Plus it's a right laugh most of the time.

I would say the biggest thank you to the Brookers, we have 3 threads the ttc's the grads and the post grads. Without the support of the ladies of the brookers I would have crumpled under the pressure of continuing ttc. No subject is taboo, they are only ever a message away and I can't say in words how grateful I am. I am a grad of the brookers (due next week) and they still support me, and me them. We have ladies going through assisted conception and we all take each step of that together with a hand hold or a wet fish slap when needed. Every Brooking birth is celebrated by everyone, no jealousy or animosity just unwavering support. It doesn't stop there, after you have your baby and become a post grad you get the most wonderful advice and honest opinions from other post grads but even those who had their little ones months and even a year ago still stand side by side with everyone else to congratulate every BFP. That is the best way I have to say it, but it is not enough!

There is one more I want to say. 2 years ago my teen was diagnosed deaf/blind due to Usher syndrome. I tried and tried to come to terms with it myself, it was so hard. I found myself one night writing a post reaching out for help and advice with no expectation (I had never heard of Usher I didn't expect anyone else to have either) but I had the most wonderful replies and a pm off one MNr who put me in touch with a support group for Usher syndrome where I was picked up, dusted down and supported. I am still involved with the support group now helping other newly diagnosed usher children and supporting/getting support from other families living with it. I would never have found them without MN

The other trouble is that you can't keep up with it all. I have just been told that the bereavement post on Tues that upset me had another duplicate that people responded to and I didn't see- so it has a much happier outcome than I thought.

I love MN - have been here since 2007 (also used to frequent Lizzie's shop and the Baaaar ).
Apart from the obvious threads (has anyone mentioned the 'getting milk late in the evening for someone who suddenly acquired a baby' thread yet? - there is also the feeling that all human life is here - and i had no experience of why anyone would (for example) want a homebirth or want to extended breastfeed - let alone what it was like day to day for those with DCs with SN. That alone has helped me to help my DSis.

I think the problem is the way the site is set out.
I don't bookmark it. I google mumsnet and go in through AIBU - which is very prominent and certainly shows the angry side ( journalists may not get beyond it) I have a quick look to see if there is anything interesting. I then log in. I go to threads I am on, see what has been added and respond. I will go on responding until it dies or I get bored, whichever happens first - about 50/50.
Next I scroll down last 15mins and see what takes my interest and that is usually it. Often I never get beyond 'threads I am on'. If it all seems boring I will go to unanswered questions and as a last resort education or primary education and that is it.
It does lead me to wade in occasionally with opinions that I would be better keeping to myself.
It does sadden me on the 'last 15 mins' to see people's life in turmoil next to utter trivia.
I think that the first impression through AIBU is poor and not representative, but it is all some people see if they google.
If you didn't get taken straight there and you had to search topics rather than last 15 mins I think you would lose a lot of the worst element.
And if I was brave enough to post about a very personal subject I wouldn't want to see it next to things like 'should workmen use your loo'. They should both be there,but they don't mix.

Mn has been such a support to me over the last year and a bit, making me laugh and cry in many ways, I have been astounded at the support given, one in particular I remember that a mum was stuck at home and needed calpol desperately, and someone took some round for her.
On a personal note dd1 has just entered teens and its been a rocky road to say the least, but I have had support with all aspects of that, from her pretending to self harm and drink bleach to her being wonderful but messy!
And dd2 had a rubbish birthday, being ill on the day, combined with being ill at Christmas she was feeling really low but has a full thread from all over the world of birthday wishes and poems and songs and she still look at that thread and sings the songs!

Anything and everything is discussed here and under the watchful eye of MNHQ.
perhaps some other sites should take heed of how things are run on here and maybe then internet bullying and other horrid things can be policed better.

Wonderful site.

I have personally found so much support here through all the ups and downs of the past few years: helpful, sage and practical advice from the employment board when I was dealing with bullying at work, support and friendship on the conception threads when I struggled to conceive, support and sympathy (and distraction) when I did conceive and promptly suffered from hyperemesis, great friends on the ante natal threads, practical advice and much sympathy and wise words since Ds arrived (non-sleeping baby threads, breastfeeding, severe eczema and allergies...)
And now I am back almost at the beginning again, getting wonderful support and advice on the hyperemesis support thread, and making new friends on the ante natal thread
Plus of course through the long nights of breastfeeding, and the long lonely days of hyperemesis, I am enjoying the diversion of all the funny mumsnet threads...
And I hope that sometimes I have added words of support that have helped someone in some small way

There are amazing supportive threads on here every day, and they far outnumber the bitchy ones. And often it is hard to realise the humour behind 'bitchy' comments once they are lifted out of context and placed in an article (for e.g.)

MN helped me through the early days with the incredible non sleeping baby (no more than 2 hours at a time for the first 4 months!), TikTok kept me breast feeding when I was ready to give up (but desperately wanted to carry on), the BOM ladies kept me sane when DSD was playing up (and 4 years on we have a great relationship) and my MMC was correctly diagnosed after I posted a "TMI" thread in chat.

I was also helped through the awfulness of my near split with DH and was able to come through it stronger, more confident and with a clearer vision of the way ahead for us, that 4 years on is still working.

I've been a part of sending cash, food, desert combats (!), postcards and stamps to MNers and their families.

I've been able to provide specific 'military' guidance to worried mums and spouses and I'm proud to have joined, and persuaded DH to join the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Register.

Oh and thanks to the MN Product Testing of the Phillips 'Man Iron' DH now spends Sunday afternoons doing the weeks ironing - I haven't had to iron ANYTHING for over a year . That alone is worth my MN Membership and

I HATE all the negativity in the press about MN. Dickheads come on here, spend half an hour in AIBU and think that is all there is. They don't spend any time getting to know the site or seeing all the good it does.

MN has helped me, educated me, made me more tolerant and understanding and allows me to mix happily with hundreds of people across a HUGE spectrum. From SAHMs to Doctors to Lawyers, people struggling on benefits to those who own Islands! Where else can you get that?

Sat here waiting for next viewing, the feels oddly quiet. Do you guys put music on?