To wonder why people are on MN that arent parents

[TraineeBabyCatcher]

Parents of some variation, ie grandparents, step, those TTC etc
Or say, nannys and jobs such as those.

Not that they shouldn't be, just intrigued why you might be?

[MulledWineOnTheBusLady]

I think I googled how to get mould out of something. Those were the mouldy years.

[badtasteflump]

Trainee I always wonder that too. Doesn't bother me either way, and I know that MN covers everything, not just motherhood. But I don't think it ever would have occurred to me to look and find that out, until I had children.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Mould clearly brings the childless flocking to MN. I find MN brilliant for that stuff too.

At some point all my childless mates will realize the reason I know all this stuff isn't that I'm a domestic genius, it's that I ask the hive mind all the time.

[Pandemoniaa]

It hadn't occurred to me that I'd become a "parent of some variation". Oddly enough, when I had my dcs, I'd assumed it was a permanent connection. No matter how old they, or I became.

But to answer your question, I am here precisely because you are not determined by being a parent or indeed judged unwanted if you aren't. Discussions are too wide ranging for that to be the case.

As it happens, I'm also a grandmother and find it really helpful to keep up with current thinking and ideas because I'm fortunate enough to have a very close relationship with her and, of course, her parents.

Not that I should have to justify myself to you, OP, anymore than I expect you to face an interrogation as to your suitability to participate on MN.

[fraktion]

Zebra you sound/write an awful lot like a (Guidey and something else involving books and guide camping locations) person I know... I may accidentally mention MN the next time I see you and watch closely.

The days of getting flamed off for not having DC are gone... And it never really worked anyway. I got told to Go Away in 2004 and whoops I'm still here. Although I do now have a Small to prevent me from MNing give me done legitimacy.

[Mrsjay]

If you google something mumsnet often comes up with answers so as had been said people find it that way, My friend is a single primary teacher no kids and she reads mumsnet andnetmums other parenting forums she even has a 'like' to a forum for children with special needs

[JugglingWithPossibilities]

I think the OP asked her question in straight-forward innocence too - and it's been interesting to read the answers. Hopefully makes us all appreciate the place more and re-affirm that everyone is welcome. Think it definitely could be womensnet for example, where visiting men also welcome as long as they behave themselves

[ZebraOwl]

fraktion



I suppose I miiiiiiight be. But then again, maybe I'm not. Bwahahahahahaha...

[laughtergoodmedicine]

Who knows who is or is not a parent? Some people probably regard that as
private.

Mick Jagger might say ...well, to be honest, I dont remember how many children I have.

Seriously mumsnet needs high numbers of all kinds of people.

[Casserole]

OP I think it was a perfectly reasonable question that you tried to phrase as openly as possible to include people and not offend, FWIW.

Personally, I like to come here every so often so reaffirm my belief that some people can take offence at absolutely bloody anything.

I haven't made that Nigella stick ribs thing in AAAAAAGES...

[TraineeBabyCatcher]

Thank you Casserole, I posted out of interest, not because I felt people had to justify themselves to me. I tried to word it in a manner that made it clearly that I was genuinely unsure, not because I was trying to make people feel as though they or I have mote right to be here.

Pande- I was just trying to get across that I realised you may come on here for parenting related things, ie about your children and/or your grandchildren and/or your step children etc but I didn't know what other reasons there would be and I was just interested how you might come across mumsnet.

[Slumberparty]

My DS and DM talked about it a lot, as they got hooked when DS had a DD - I took the mickey...finally looked for myself, got hooked on AIBU.
A lot of threads on here, relationships and chat are not related to children or parenting so is relevant / interesting to all.

[Slumberparty]

Meant DSis not DS.....

[MrsTwankey]

I found it by accident when looking for a receipe or something. Started reading AIBU in my lunch hour and then found other topics. It wasn't until yesterday I actually went on a parenting thread for the 1st time and I've got 3DC.

[ErrorError]

I think I like others, I googled something random and a Mumsnet thread popped up with the answer, so that's how I started lurking in the first place. To be honest, before I realised about the variety of topics available here, I wouldn't have considered signing up if I'd only just heard of it and not read on. I'd have thought "But I'm not a Mum, would anyone value my opinion at all?" Guess I thought being a Mum was like an exclusive club. When I hear my mum friends talk about parenting issues I just smile, nod and say "oh yeah absolutely/of course you must feel that way." but I don't know the feeling do I. Then I dash home to MN as I'm a little bit clueless! So I do think you have a legitimate point OP, and not offensive at all.

I'm more attracted to the non-parenting threads of course, but have contributed to parenting related things, if I can relate from an 'I have experienced this as a child myself' sort of way, e.g. bullying/falling out with friends/embarrassing things kids say/how to talk about sensitive topics with kids etc.

[ErrorError]

Oops far too many I's in my post! Haha!

[101handbags]

I don't look at the conversations that are about children but still find plenty to interest me here.

[TheSmallClanger]

I go ages only mentioning DD tangentially.

I like MN because it is one of the rare online discussion forums that does not revolve around the "needs" of teenage boys and young men. I like being able to chat with knowledgeable, funny women about all sorts of stuff, serious and silly, without being bombarded with irritating memes and endless sexist prattle. I know others don't agree with me on this point, but I like the level of moderation too.

[SaskiaRembrandtVampireHunter]

I do have children, but mine were all in their teens when I started to use MN, and the appeal was that this is one of the few parenting sites that cater for parents of older children/teens/young adults. Most seem to focus on babies/toddlers/primary school age kids.

Saying that, most threads I read or post on aren't related to parenting at all. (I seem to post about zombies a lot) As others have said, this is a great place to have interesting, informative, and often very entertaining conversations about a huge range of subjects, and it's nice that all comers are welcome, you get a great range of views and experiences.

[Mrsjay]

this is one of the few parenting sites that cater for parents of older children/teens/young adults.

that is why i came here initially as another site i used they were all younger children and wasn't really what i was looking for ,

[exoticfruits]

Because it's like the biggest and most engrossing set of problem pages and coffee shop gossip you've ever seen in your life

I agree-that is why it is addictive. Where else do you get to give people your advice on any subject?