What first brought you to Mumsnet?

[HenryInTheTunnel]

Interesting first post, OP!

My very first query was about step parenting when i was in a relationship at the time with someone with a child from a previous rel. I didn't post but liked to read about all the potential pit falls and suggestions of how to approach that situation. I then got sucked in to the chatter on Active Conversations and have been here ever since, about 10 or so years now.

What first brought you to these murky waters?

Was severely depressed with PND. Excruciatingly lonely. It was my life line. Then got banned for a) standing up for myself against a group of people, whixh you're not allowed to do if you're not in thay group of people, and b) for 're quoting something and saying"you can't say that, it's not acceptable here". Drove me into further depression, until I managed to remain a year or so later. It's still my lifeline-i have no other adult contact apart from here and 2 minutes at school pickup time. Life is long and lonely. This is all I have, sometimes.

Approx 9 years ago, a friend at playgroup mentioned it for parenting advice (Hi Bronwen, miss you!!)
Found active threads and have got lost ever since.
Sometimes prefer certain topics depending on stages of my life but I love it, whenever I’m googling someone I usually type my question and then put mumsnet on the end so it brings up threads from here (and sometimes it brings up threads from the huns at NM )

Entered my consciousness when fathers4justice were having a pop. Must be doing something worthwhile, I thought, but I'm too young.

Then penis beaker got linked on another forum. Funny, yes, but I wasn't quite ready.

Then got pg after a miscarriage and read a LOT of MN...I think it made the possibility of becoming a mother more real. Also credit the advice I got on here for the best case scenario birth I had.

We won't talk about my AIBU post about someone ignoring my pregnancy talk about a rookie error.

Another here that jumped ship from Bounty Debates as it went down the pan!

Trouble with breastfeeding and sleeping. Especially sleeping. I kept googling various little issues with babies and being referred to Mumsnet, and gradually noticed they discuss other things on here too.

Came for baby sleep advice/ words of sympathy. Got sucked in by cubes of poo.

Helping someone with a very rare life-threatening illness. I broke off my Easter holiday by the sea in 2014 to help her, albeit an emotional break off, as I was there with my family physically but for two days 'not there' with them, trying to think and say the right think. She died sadly some seven months later from GVHD which I didn't. Her journey took over 2 or 3 threads here. I had the same illness and survived. I think about her and her family often. She was pretty awesome. Having listened to her PM's I am no longer afraid of death.

Research on communities for work. No kids but enjoy the aibu section

I came here after another tenant in my building insisted on putting her pushchair outside my flat door blocking me in. She was constantly abusive towards me saying things like "you're not a mum how can you understand? Just climb over it" or things about her being a Muslim.

I was throwing my keys (literally) at passers by to get out. My landlord told me it wasn't their problem. The firebrigade when contacted had to ring the bells to be let in which meant she then moved the bloody thing.

I came here expecting to be told why I was being unreasonable after hearing how militant MN was.

Instead I found people who for months supported me in many many ways, yes I got some nasty messages and PMs but overwhelmingly people supported me. I was shocked.

No one in RL ever believed MN supported me though!

In fairness she has since apologised to me for the situation, but at the time it was hellish.

My first post was probably replying to someone who asked a question on either extra-curricular or gardening, I can't remember now.

People in RL still don't believe MNers supported me and it was years ago and on AIBU as well!

I was in netmums for 15 years, fed up of the pop ups so came over here, realised you can swear (without being put on a ban) and everything so stayed.

This old thread from Classics came up in a search about Oramorph. rtft and get your endangered mansize tissues out for a proper ugly cry.

drug dependant baby, advice needed www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/922821-drug-dependant-baby-advice-needed

I googled about going to centre parks and found the anal sex and centre parks thread! - the replies were so sarcastic and made me laugh, I knew I'd like Mumsnet. I used to look at babycentre..

I was googling campsites, found the Camping threads and stayed. MN saw my DS through the 11+, both DC through secondary exams, Uni selections and more. I really should now be on Gransnet. It as my Mum is there I am staying here 😀

There was a Jeremy Kyle thread years ago, that was hilarious cant remember when, been wanting to reread it but cant find it

@Becca19962014 oh god it can be brilliant but a little bit crackers at times!!

That's a nice story.

Can't remember how I came here, must have been wandering around the internet

The most boring long term temp job ever as a switchboard operator when pregnant with DS2. I had hours of staring at a screen. It was my ante natal group first (then for DS3) and was also part of the Swagger Inn that delighted and disgusted MNetters in equal measure. Whenever I look for reviews etc on anything at all I google then Mumsnet and can guarantee a thread. These days I lurk in books and academics and read active on the commute.

A few things really. I used to be on LJ when I got pregnant and someone I thought was very cool mentioned MN a couple of times in her posts.

Also I used to work making graphics for health waiting areas and sometimes had to look up things like safe sleep guidance or breastfeeding benefits or what have you and I kept finding MN. I got it mixed up with netmums a few times. I do remember the lunchbox tips on classic MN which intrigued me.

I have no idea what my first thread which kept me here was. DS1 was 3 months old at the time and he is now 10

Trying to conceive, looking to find success stories re: Clomid. That was 13 years ago.

About 11 years ago...three people told me to join Netmums and NOT Mumsnet. Definitely, definitely not Mumsnet, as it was SO horrible.

I'm such a rebel.

I am also one of a small handful for whom the whole Penis Beaker thing did nothing. Still doesn't.

Lurked aibu for a bit then joined during the epic listed building patio doors spangran saga.

I had pnd and first posted on mn about it when dc1 was 6 months old. She's 7 now!

@safariboot I remember that thread! What happened in the end? I was quite invested in that, then couldn't find it.

I’m embarrassed to say that I paid for the Bad Mother’s club for a year ... and had a badge And everything and then yeah it became shit
Tried netmums and the vomit inducing banners made me want to pluck my eyeballs out and then I came across this place
Been here since 2009 👌🏼