What do you want to thank Mumsnet for?

[PoohBearsHole]

So doing the large amount of stacked up ironing I realised I had mumsnet to thank.

10 years ago I applied to be a “tester” and ended up heading to London to find out how to iron “properly” -I won’t lie I learnt LOADS- and as a result met some lovely mnetters and received a Phillips steam iron. 10 years later it still does a fab job and I’d replace it in a heart beat. I also loathe ironing so this is quite a big deal for me!

What have you learnt, tested or can be grateful to mn for?

Laughter- the cutted up Pear comes to mind.

Yes amazing wit, hugely intelligent and perceptive women. Relationship advice. Westminsterenders brexit discussions and support throughout the political clusterfuck. Post referendum insight and links. Advice and experience on secondary education and dyslexia.

I've actually lurked on the Stately Homes threads since June, and they are teaching me that I'm not the horrifically massive disappointment I've been trained to think I am. I haven't plucked up the courage to post yet because my problems with my family pale in comparison, but it helps massively to know that there are other people out there who grew up in households that shaped them into a way from which they're now breaking free. Those threads give that bit of solidarity that's priceless. It was on MN that I found out I'm not alone.

Also I thank MN for all the giggles. The fat ball and the Sistine Chapel both kill me, amongst others!

Many things. Like the hedgehog cam thread.

My Babyliss Big Hair
Please... Tell me more! What do you use??

I'm grateful for so many answers to questions you'd never think to ask in real life.

^ My Babyliss Big Hair
Lol I just googled "Babyliss big hair" I'd never heard of such a thing and thought it was just a turn of phrase 😂😆

For those tiny bits of advice that make life easier - we have just booked two Christmas activities based on MN recommendations.
For being able to talk about the archers with people who are as obsessed as I am.
But mostly for FWR, and the intelligent articulate women on it. For the bravery that MN and those women are showing.

The infertility support threads while I was struggling to conceive

Following threads about divorce saved my sanity almost every day of my divorce 'journey'. I cannot thank MN or mumsnetters enough!

I can thank Mumsnet for breastfeeding ds2 without topping up even though he was huge and the health visitor was telling me to.

Also for huge amounts of support when I lost my dad from people who understood when no one IRL did.

And most importantly of all, the best route to take around Legoland.

Helping me see that I was in an emotionally abusive marriage (separated now), and losing weight on the low carb boot camp! (It's brilliant btw).

Yoni massage. I had no idea.

Just because.

For introducing me to the threats to women’s safety and rights posed by self-ID and extremist TRA demands. I hadn’t a clue. For opening my eyes to how abusive relationships work and how to spot red flags. And for crying with laughter at the classic ‘embarrassing/weird things that happened to me’ type threads.

For being a forum full of intelligent, funny, informative discussion between women and for not banning me oops.

For being the only place that I could discuss my discovery of my DH affairs. In RL, I could not talk to anyone about it , in case I decided to stay in the marriage.
Support , reassurance and kind thoughts saved my sanity.

That the mods understand the difference between an opinion, however brutal, and hate speech and discrimination.

We may not always agree with their interpretation but they walk a fine line and mostly get it right or very close.

I have a stressful customer facing job and I really have to thank this site for giving me an insight into the lives of people who struggle with special needs of all types and severities. Actually probably more so for those who have minor special needs as often they arent so obvious to strangers. I listen when someone tells me of their childs diagnosis and often I can relate that in some way to a thread I have read on here .
It helps a lot that I can empathise with them and anticipate where any problems might occur.

Mooncup

10 years tampon-free!
Reliable even in perimeno

Hardly reading a book since I joined
( totally misses the point)

I got good legal advice here a few weeks ago which I really appreciate.

Being able to chat on here about my pnd when I haven't told others in real life. The support here is really helpful.

The wit and intelligence of posters.

For making me think a lot harder about how other people view the world - I have much more empathy now and hope I behave better toward people.

For making me even more militant about irresponsible dog ownership and people who buy puppies. Ahem.

For making me laugh through endless night feeds - the whole of classics. I have a special fondness for the poster who thought she had rescued a dead cat. And Paul the pigeon. So many funny, acerbic woman with some hysterical turns of phrase. You absolute fanny of a woman was genius.

It's generally broadened my world view, I lurked for years and years without posting, now I do and it's even more fun.

Thanks MN.

Oh and for deleting a recent thread were I told a poster off (first time) before anyone else did.

After nearly 9 years, I've arrived!

For making me realise my husband's behaviour towards me was abusive and giving me the strength to ... be strong.

For Woolly Hugs.

For being there

For giving me the backbone to stand up for my own boundaries without feeling like I need to give an excuse. In an exercise class recently we were put into pairs not something that usually happens & I was paired with a man I didn't know who was taller & stronger than me & didn't seem to be aware of this as an issue. I didn't object at the time but I did wait until everyone had left & told the teacher that I wasn't comfortable with this. No excuses or reasons given, just "I'm not comfortable being touched in any way by men I don't know."

The only time she's put us in groups since, she deliberately put the men in a group together. Previously, I'd have left the class without saying anything, never returned & been miserable because it's something I enjoy doing most of the time.

This was a huge personal triumph for me - I'm the epitome of the meek little woman. One day, I hope to have enough backbone to be able to object as soon as I start feeling uncomfortable...!

Getting me through two children being diagnosed with autism. Posters on the special needs board advised me what to ask for and what my children were entitled to. They helped me form arguments and gave me terminology that meant the powers that be knew that I knew what I was talking about and couldn't withhold or brush me off because I wasn't well informed enough. They made me have high expectations for my children and how they were treated. I am often asked for advice from parents whose children are recently diagnosed or have had concerns raised leaving them all reeling and not knowing where to start and I always send them to MN.