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

I read it Mouse . Am lurker on your wonderful thread .

I think you have said what Mumsnet does every single day of the year night and day . For so many people with so diverse needs including much needed humour at times .

Any journo lurking please read and listen to all these voices eh?

And erm no I dont have a degree ,am one of the oldies and live far away from Muswell Hill where we still race whippets and wear flat caps .

Fabulous post Mouse .

mouse, you are wonderful.

All the brave babes are.

And by the way...and yes, I am going to out her...it was mouse that sent the DS for my son to open on his birthday. Who put a huge smile on his face. Who made him feel equal and cool with his classmates.
Without MN in general, and the brave babe threads in particular, my life would be poorer.

Some of my closest friends I met through MN. We chat every day. We met on the Conception board and are supporting each other through TTC, conception, infertility, miscarriage.... and just life in general.

I don't know how the last three years would have been for me if it wasn't for them.

I have also learned a tremendous amount about life, the universe and everything, and become a more tolerant and knowledgeable person.

I agree with Zombie: "...it's the whole package that is MN. The support, the friendships, the laughs, the bunfights - they all play a part."

I found MN after my first mc and it's seen me through a total of 3 mc and also 2 wonderful healthy babies. The support couldn't have been bettered. I've made many friends and have met some in RL.

MN has had many fantastic campaigns, such as "let girls be girls" and for better mc care. As for the WoollyHugs and support for the bereaved, words fail me.

well said Mouse

Hello lovely MNers :)

Over the last 3ish years, I have kept The Brave Babes threads running in Relationships (because that's where the first thread was posted and with very good reason) from the first few threads that were posted for purely selfish reasons. To keep myself sober.

Whilst the threads help lots of posters to get sober, stay sober or change the way that they drink, the threads also help lurkers.

Those who are perhaps a little scared to say out loud "I drink too much and I'm worried about how I feel about it....." or don't know where to start.

We have regular MNers who NC because they don't want to be 'outed', they're scared and terrified of what might happen once they say "I think I'm an alcoholic" and someone says 'Oooo, hello I know you Mner'

We have MNers who maybe only post the once, or a few times and then go. And then we have MNers who are still on the Bus every day, trying to stay sober, stay in control, stay bloody sane!

For me, MN is a lifeline. My darling son has Complex SN, and the SN Children threads have given me so much support even though I don't often post, and so they don't really know that they also help me so very much. I read them. I cry, laugh and nod. Lots.

There are a number of posters who I admire beyond all possible admiration, for keeping going after losing their precious children or loved ones, being abused and surviving, losing so much of themselves, losing the lives that they thought they would always have.

The posters who had nothing but a mobile, a bag of clothes and their children. Those who needed to run, before 'he' came home. Before 'he' came back to abuse them. Again.

I remember weeping at some of the posts about abusive relationships because of my own experiences.

I remember the day I learnt what a Mooncup? was and ordering one, unsure of the best size and having to ask

I remember the 'We Believe You' campaign because I was part of it, on the front line so to speak.

I remember the lost toy in Blackpool thread was amazing.

I remember Trinity's horrific loss. The numbness in her posts. She's since been one of the Bravest Babes I know and I admire her greatly for the way she has turned her life around following such a cruel and twisted diversion put into her life.

There are SO MANY MNers who have touched my life, I mean really.

They've become a daily part of my life to ask how I am, how my pain is, where I'm up to with my meds, how Nemo got on in PICU, is he home, texts, calls, visits FFS, MNers turning up on my doorstep to help me out with something

I have had presents sent for Nemo 'just because' he's been poorly or not quite himself.

There are too many wonderful Mners who have kept me going to mention in this post but I have laughed until I needed a fresh TenaLady? and I have cried until DH has said what on earth has happened with utter horror in his voice thinking that the absolute worst has happened, and on here, it had.

But I have smiled until my face ached

There are posters who got out of violent relationships and survived. Just like I did, I wish I'd known about MN then, when I was being raped, abused, beaten, used and attacked.

The support on here blows me away. Each and every day.

At Christmas, I spent days crying as more and more wonderful boxes of gifts arrived each day. I had no idea that people cared so much about my family, my darling boy Nemo and my wonderful DD.

I've met MNers in real life, I have forged so many strong, real, lovely and true friendships from joining MN.

What does Mumsnet really mean to me?

Seeing people survive through the darkest times in their lives because of the kindness of strangers. People helping, driving miles, delivering a teddy, food, money, Wolly Hugs, getting someone to a safe place, holding a hand, fighting a corner, and even taking about Yoni massaging

That is what Mumsnet means to me, in the shortest possible post!!

Thank you HelenMNHQ et al for being who you are, and letting us be who we are too :) xx

PS - sorry for any typos, I'm shattered after a long day of playing with the boy. Sorry for the long waffling post and thank you if you read it :)

MN has been an amazing source of knowledge and support for me.

A couple of years ago I posted a brutally honest op in chat about the terror I was feeling as I began to miscarry at 12 weeks. The outpouring of love and support was incredible and, as the inevitable happened, lots and lots of posters looked after me and kept a virtual eye on me.

I went on to ttc (and mc) again and the ttc after mc people, the freakout room and then totally grads helped me finally get my beautiful ds2.

I will be eternally grateful to MN.

The BraveBabes Battle Bus is a thread of support, humour and kindness for those with alcohol related problems. It is, quite literally, a life saver and mners from all over the UK go out of their way to support and sometimes meet in RL, those who need hand holding. Once, it was Ds birthday and I was broke. He wanted a DS ( are you following this) which I couldn't afford, and someone sent me a brand new one for him to have on his birthday. sniff

Can't think of much to add to the above. This is an amazing life enhancing place, an encyclopedia, support network, sounding board, which offers friendship, common sense and wit 24-7. Love it.

In february 2005 mners persuaded me to attend a scan, despite the heavy snow and the fact that my bleeding had stopped. I was rushed into theatre with an ectopic pregnancy, dh posted on here for me, to tell my friends. The following day I lost consciousness and there was blood all over the floor and my bed, turns out that during my cs, when I had my ds, they had shoved my bladder into the wrong place (!) and the surgery to remove the ep had resulted in my bladder being nicked. Cue major abdominal surgery, it all got a bit hairy. The following day a bunch of flowers and card arrived, from mners. And another. And another. When I finally got home another bunch arrived and more cards. Mners have supported my through 12 of my 14 mc's, the ep, severe depression and various issues from a disasterous hairdo to huge marital problems. I have been here for 7 years, I have made several friends offboard, met many mners in person and I owe you all so much. If you are a twat, mners will tell you so, but if you need support, they will give it. Not everyone gets mumsnet, but that's fine, there are many sites that I don't get. Noone forces us to be here, and the press forgets that.

Mumsnetters held my virtual hand across the ocean two years ago when my waters broke prematurely while I was in the US. I will never forget their kindness and the courage they gave me. They saw me through the the terror, the worry and the sheer boredom of seven weeks on bedrest. I am eternally grateful (DS is doing brilliantly by the way )

It might not be everyone's cup of tea but then you can't please everyone can you? Personally I love it and long may it continue.

I've read some amazing things on here.

It cheers me up.
It helps me remember that the world isn't full of selfish fuckers.
It makes me smile.

It makes me feel part of a community.

Sorry for the hijack here: thanks mrsdevere, yes I'm home came home the same day as Alex. He's a whopping 6 lbs now, hungry and awake all the time he's off oxygen completely and his brain scans/organ function tests etc are all clear.
I'm doing well, still pretty weak but being home is amazing. They are pretty sure I'm permanently paralysed down my right side/leg, my arm works but not much else but Alex is SO worth that

TeWi's mention of "cheered up when life is a bit shite" made me think of this recent gem in AIBU:

OP: Some woman nearly sat at my table in a cofee shop and I nearly had to share with her and her mummy friends. But she didn't, and I didn't.

All posters:

MrsKoala: "i've got a top tip to avoid just this problem. next time smear shit all over your face and no one will want to share your table.
You're welcome."

I kept laughing when remembering it for a good week!

Oops strikethrough fail

Oh and even most of AIBU isn't that bad, it might kick off sometimes but generally when the AIBU is something like 'aibu for thinking that people who do X are dreadful?' and the OP gets -flamed- helpful opinions about not being judgey, so really you could look on that as being supportive to people who do X.

Admittedly I've never started an AIBU, (no need, I know I'm always reasonable)

This thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/1731490-Can-someone-please-explain-the-care-system-to-me?pg=

is amazing. Someone asks for information, lots of people contribute, some very sad things within it, lots of people have more knowledge anf at the end of it someone wants to be a foster carer.

Bloody wonderful.

There are so many things others have posted that I'm nodding along to.

The humour is just phenomenal. I was having a bit of a rough day when Annunzita posted her thread about being asked to pick which of her children to take to her brothers wedding - and I bet she was too, and the responses are just so funny.

MN is a brilliant place to be cheered up when life is a bit shite.

I'm an immigrant in the UK and I really wanted something special made in the traditional New Zealand way for my DS when he was born - they are knitted shoes with fluffy in the inside leather on the outside sheepskin soles.

I started a thread and with help from the awesome googling powers of MNers worked out that they are really expensive in the UK! I had to decide to get some shipped from home when a very kind MNer pm'd me to say she had some she'd been given and never used.

She sent them to me, and wouldn't accept any money for them.

It's such a little thing, but it was so kind and so thoughtful and I LOVED those shoes.

So, gabity. Thank you very much. DS wore them pretty much everyday!

I'd like to add that what's so bloody brilliant about MN is exactly that it's chock full of women with strong opinions and varied interests. I've had conversations I never would have otherwise, and thought about things I'd always seen as black and white.

I found out my DD was lactose intolerant at 4yrs old (and when I look back, has been since birth!) because a poster suggested I cut out dairy and see what happened with her issues.

I am so passionate about rights for disabled people - particularly SEN like Autism because of some amazing threads and posters who are so open and honest about how difficult it is.

For Zombie it's the whole package that is MN. The support, the friendships, the laughs, the bunfights - they all play a part.

She is and will be eternally grateful for the support she has received over the past 18 months or so. She's shared many of the challenges life has put in her path during that time and has been met with unfailing kindness and support. There are other things she's not shared but for which she's also received support by reading threads started on similar situations by those with far more courage than she will ever have.

Several people have mentioned community and that really does sum it up.

Thanks to all of you.

The spiderman pyjamas thread - that was a good one.

And the fact that you can post any kind of embarrassing-bodies, TMI style problem and someone will come and share their experience and encourage you.

One of my very first threads, after a long time lurking, was to rant about how some lowlife had just stolen my buggy from outside my house. I said on there that the thing upsetting me most was that dd1s very first baby blanket had been in the basket and of course now that was gone too :( A wonderful kind mnetter pm'd me to say she made blankets and if I gave her a description she would like to make dd another one. I was so touched by the kindness of this total stranger, and every time I use her blanket I am reminded that for every idiot in the world there is also someone totally lovely.