Why are you on MN, and how did you get here?

[StuntAcorn]

I can't remember exactly but I think it was googling intermittent fasting and reading the posts on here for inspiration.
Now it's become a regular port of call when I need some inspiration for holidays or what to have for dinner! 😅

Just as long as you don’t libel her…

In 2006 the parenting site I used (iVillage) either went under or got very quiet (I can't remember which) and I was looking for a new place to get advice about my then 18 month old daughter. Been here ever since under various names and even helped organise a MN xmas party when we used to do those! My daughter is now 20 and son is 17 so need advice much less often but still pop on to read and get advice on random life stuff/give advice to others.

I joined in 2009 when expecting DC1. Was absolutely amazed at the access to the lived experience of people who have lived very different lives than me, and it has been a source of fascination and education ever since. I've learnt so much and found that I too have been able to advise and support in areas of my own experience and expertise. MN has blown what I now realise was quite a siloed mindset and I think I'm now a much better judge of character and definitely more empathetic and able to see much bigger picture in terms of people's circumstances and character.

I've been dismayed to find so many tales and testimonies of male violence and aggression ‐every single day. I'd previously thought that it was just my very rare and 'shameful' experience, and kept those memories to myself, but 15 years on MN has brought the plight of women and girls to such an obvious and distressing fore and taught me there's no shame in sharing.

I was looking for pregnancy advice in 2007! Although I don't think this is my original account. Had I been brave enough to post about my ex-dp back then I definitely would have been told to leave the bastard. Unfortunately I didn't dare because I was scared he would see it (he liked to hack into my stuff while I was at work).

how weird! That’s pretty much exactly what I did! It was more like 18 years for me though.

Many moons ago I had originally joined netmums. My ds was a toddler.

There was a lot of site swapping at one point where both sets of members would troll the other boards and quite a lot of animosity.

So I came over from netmums to see what they'd done after a link.

Realised I'm much more of a Mumsnetter. Joined here. Quit there - and I've been here ever since.

I can barely remember when I wasn't browsing MN but it can't have been all that long ago. I came upon it when googling 'narcissistic abuse' I think, as I was struggling to understand why my super smart friend was in such a terrible, damaging relationship with a See You Next Tuesday, which lasted 8 years......and how to help her. And an MN thread popped up. I was hooked ! I genuinely used to laugh out loud (at other threads obvs) but that doesn't happen so much now. I love Chat and can't stop sticky beaking in Relationships. AIBU can be a real eye opener !
btw she did leave the bastard but it was very messy and I had to dig deep to not completely lose it with her to be honest. I was in his orbit too so I had to keep my cool. She is my oldest, dear friend but Jesus George......MN def helped me navigate that, my resentment etc., how to take a step back....
thanks MN'ers 💐🌈