To realise that joining Mumsnet is quite scary

[Choosparp]

..and seems to involve lots of "in jokes" and acronyms that newbies won't get. I was active 10 years ago when DS1 was born, then left for ages because I had another baby then my husband died. Coming back this last few weeks for support of my SEN DS2 (see! I get the lingo still!) I feel like an outsider. I'm 43, widowed, remarried, have a successful job. SEN channel has been fab, but I don't think I will join the main threads. SN is fab. Other threads seem to be so mean in places. Why are we narking at each other? FFS.

There's loads of other good topics. AIBU is probably the only one where people get pooey. The nice outweigh the bad. There's a few users on my list who I ignore and avoid. That's the way to enjoy it..Otherwise MN is great!

Nice one for coming back OP, in all seriousness that's really classy of you!

choo well done for coming back.

Biscuits are normally only given as a 'no comment' or for GF as a kind of fuck off.

This is a list of acronyms to help you settle in.

www.mumsnet.com/info/acronyms

Anything sort of 'in' jokes you don't get, just ask, lots of people love giving back history.

I've actually found MN a million times nicer and just easier to slot into than I thought I would. I have to admit, I posted here originally because I was going through a bit of a breakdown and was blurging my emotional problems indiscriminately. I don't think I was thinking of staying long-term. But I really love it. And actually I love how you can be blunt or even rude and have bunfights and it's okay. On other forums if you get cross once you're remembered for ever after as 'the angry one.'

Bearing in mind I am on rather a lot of cold medication.