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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think it's not weird to post here if you don't have children

53 replies

ShutUpShouty · 30/05/2014 09:56

or planning on having children in the near future?

I know there are lots of people who post here who don't have children (myself included) but I've noticed that whenever someone brings up in a thread that they don't have children someone will jump in to ask "why are you here then?" There have even been a couple of threads wondering why people who don't have children are here.

I know the site is called MUMSnet but I don't think it's weird that people with kids are here. After all you don't have to be a parent to talk about style and beauty, pets, health, weight loss, cooking and recipes and all the other numerous topics that can be talked about here that have nothing to do with children or parenting.

So am I the weird one I wonder...?Confused

OP posts:
NiceCupOfTeaAndAPartyRing · 30/05/2014 10:01

YANBU, I think it's pretty unfair.
I don't have kids but my sister is a BF Counsellor and Attachment Parenting advocate, so I love listening to her theories on different parenting techniques, not just for the future when I do have kids, but because it genuinley interests me. I've worked in nurseries and am a singing teacher to kids with LD so it's helped no end.
It's like saying you can't be a Midwife unless you've gone through childbirth so you can know how it feels.
Being as prepared as you can be for when the time does actually come round can only be a good thing. :)

Goblinchild · 30/05/2014 10:01

No, it's a site where people discuss many topics unrelated to having children, so I do think it's a bit snarly to ask why someone is posting.
Occasionally someone will ask 'How old are yours?' because the other poster is setting out how things should be and perhaps they lack experience of that age-range. And sounding a bit pompous.
But I like the variety and range here.

TheSpottedZebra · 30/05/2014 10:06

What? Loads of people here don't have kids. Some want the,m or work with them; others like the chat. Surely there's room for all, other that goady twats or trolls?

I have DC but its very rare that I post about them. Mostly I stick to highbrow topics like Telly Addicts or similar.

AnyFucker · 30/05/2014 10:23

Yanbu

Ludways · 30/05/2014 10:25

I don't think it's odd, the more the merrier or so they say.

I'm not 'just' a mum either, woo hoo!!

LittlePeaPod · 30/05/2014 10:30

YANBU. I have never understood why people with no children get pounced on sometimes. Just because you have no children doesn't mean you can't engage in a debate or conversation.

gordyslovesheep · 30/05/2014 10:32

YANBU

MrsGoslingWannabe · 30/05/2014 10:36

If I didn't have DD I would never think of going on Mumsnet.

MrsWinnibago · 30/05/2014 10:38

I wouldn't either MrsGosling but I think people find it through googling stuff...after all the site is far from being exclusively about parenting isn't it? There's so much here.

AlpacaLypse · 30/05/2014 10:40

I've never comprehended why successfully replicating oneself could be seen as sole qualifications for having an opinion on any matter to do with children. Quite a few of my children's teachers, doctors etc over the years have been childless - but I value their knowledge considerably higher than that of some of the more clueless parents I've met along the way!

MrsWinnibago · 30/05/2014 10:57

Alpa but having a child and the experience of being with it daily is not something which can be taught on a degree course. Parents do have an exclusive insight to some aspects of parenting. Academics can only go so far.

Youdontneedacriminallawyer · 30/05/2014 11:00

I wonder whether the Mumsnet creators would have given the site a different name, had they envisaged how it would take off, and which way it would go.

MrsWinnibago · 30/05/2014 11:01

I doubt it. It's based on parenting.

MrsWinnibago · 30/05/2014 11:02

Which is part of why it's taken off to this degree.

angelos02 · 30/05/2014 11:06

YANBU. There are loads of topics that have nothing to do with children.

MrsDavidBowie · 30/05/2014 11:07

The best threads are those which have nothing at all to do with children.

Sparklingbrook · 30/05/2014 11:10

What MrsDB said. I have most of the 'being a parent' stuff hidden, even though I am one.
Now mine are 14 and 12 there's less to talk about children-wise.

The more the merrier as long as they have a sense of humour. Grin

ClockWatchingLady · 30/05/2014 11:12

Nope - not at all weird. I love it that it's not just parents on here.

slithytove · 30/05/2014 11:21

Yanbu. I joined another parenting site after DD was stillborn. There were still certain posters cunts who told me I had no right to be there as I wasn't a mum. That set me back.

slithytove · 30/05/2014 11:24

And so many people other than parents must find these sites useful. People looking to adopt, ttc, people who do childcare forms living etc.

Let alone the fact that many of the interesting threads are unrelated to kids. my new current favourite, guest sanpro

Vintagejazz · 30/05/2014 11:26

YANBU. But I presume the posters who question non parents joining MN are also the twats who post things like "I presume you don't have children" when someone posts something they don't agree with.

VenusDeWillendorf · 30/05/2014 11:26

Yeah, we are all hairy truckers :) Or dogs.

Latara · 30/05/2014 11:27

YANBU; I post here although I'm only mum to a cat - I would like children before I'm 40 but I'm not sure how realistic that will be.

I lurked for a while but joined when I started reading AIBU and just had to make comments, also I enjoy Chat, Style & Beauty, Feminism etc.

Youdontneedacriminallawyer · 30/05/2014 11:27

I don't think it is based on parenting MrsWinnibago. There are so many other issues that are discussed on here.

Thumbwitch · 30/05/2014 11:28

YANBU. If you like the site, and you like the chat, then stay and enjoy.

I found the site way before I had or even contemplated having children - a schoolfriend alerted me to it because we had been at school with one of the founders - so I had a look and thought it was pretty funny, clever, interesting etc. But then I left it alone and didn't go back to it until I'd had DS1, mostly because I hadn't got sucked into the whole social meeja thing at any level at that stage. I can't remember what set me back on the MN path but I've been here ever since!

Plenty of people on this site don't have children, aren't even in a relationship or ever contemplating having children - but that, I think, is a good thing because it provides some balance. :)