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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask those who don't have children and aren't trying, what made you come here?

157 replies

Emlou07 · 17/12/2017 07:17

After reading another thread where there are some ladies who said they don't have children, don't want them and haven't tried..

What made you come to a parenting website?

I understand those who have tried or can't have children etc. - NOT a hate thread, genuinely wondering x

OP posts:
Silverthorn · 17/12/2017 07:18

Why does it matter to you?

OccasionalNachos · 17/12/2017 07:22

I was googling how to clean a washing machine with soda crystals, found a thread in search results, clicked around a bit... that was in 2011.

Original poster
Emlou07 · 17/12/2017 07:24

@silverthorn

It doesn't. I was curious. Don't worry, I won't lose any sleep over it!

OP posts:
speakout · 17/12/2017 07:25

"ladies"

Hmm
CharleneMonaco · 17/12/2017 07:26

They might have come here via a google search for something then got hooked! Google regularly has a link to MN for all manner of non child-related topics.

I do have a DD but am not interested in the parenting topics. I do love the EU thread and the Archers one. Lots of discussion on the relationship board might be of interest to people with or without kids.

MN is a broad church.

SpartonDregs · 17/12/2017 07:27

Isn't it funny how 'genuinely wondering' is the least genuine phrase there is.

Redglitter · 17/12/2017 07:27

I was googling something and ended up here. Then realised that a huge part of the site was about non parenting issues.

HerSymphonyAndSong · 17/12/2017 07:29

I am now pregnant with my first but have been on here for over ten years and was not TTC for most of that time. These threads come up fairly frequently, it’s a common question

I was googling things to do with H’s godson who was coming to stay with us, MN thread came up, I ended up reading more of active conversations. I like the women-dominated aspect

There is a good deal of chat on here that is unrelated to becoming a parent or parenting. I think with apps etc these days a lot of people new to the site come via the MN pregnancy app (or whatever) and never look at the rest of the topics

silentsigh · 17/12/2017 07:44

I found some mumsnet threads when I was looking for something on google search. I realised the forum was a lot more than just for parenting topics, got hooked on reading AIBU! Also I'm disabled and I was happy to see a lot of support for invisible illness/disability here.

camelfinger · 17/12/2017 07:47

I have children now, but came on here before for the same reason above - was Googling something and mumsnet came up.

Fortheloveofscience · 17/12/2017 07:50

I came for the classics, and stay for the feminism Smile. It’s really unusual to find such an uncensored online space where the dominant voices are female.

NickMyLipple · 17/12/2017 07:50

I am now pregnant but I first came here when I was a nanny and I used the nanny and aupair section. Then I found my way to chat and AIBU and became chronically addicted and was physically unable to tear myself away... 😂

EmpressOfTheSpartacusOceans · 17/12/2017 07:54

I'm not remotely interested in having kids but Mumsnet is one of the best feminist sites there is right now.

That and the running threads.

CoalTit · 17/12/2017 07:57

I'd seen mumsnet mentioned a fair bit in other comments sections, forums, etc. Then I read an AIBU quoted somewhere and looked it up. Now I'm a hopeless AIBU junkie. I don't look at the rest of the site.

Ecclesiastes · 17/12/2017 08:05

I came on a Popbitch invasion and stayed. MN is where the cool women hang out. Nothing to do with whether they have kids or not. Who cares?

TheEagle · 17/12/2017 08:07

I joined a few years before I had children because I was working as a nanny and needed some advice on that section of the site.

TheEagle · 17/12/2017 08:09

Also the Mum I worked for at the time was a big advocate of Gina Ford. When I Googled GF to find out more about her I was directed to all the Mumsnet brouhaha about her and it looked like a good place to hang out!

YesThisIsMe · 17/12/2017 08:10

A childfree mate of mine just comes here to talk about guinea pigs.

Poshindevon · 17/12/2017 08:11

There is loads of useful information on Mumsnet quite apart from parenting and pregnancy.
Interesting views and comments made by real women. Love it or hate it MN is never dull

EmmaGrundyForPM · 17/12/2017 08:11

I do have grown up children so am not on here for parenting tips - although a couple of the threads about universities wee useful lat year.

I had heard of MN but never been on it until 4 years ago.when we were having our kitchen refitted and did a Google search for "prison and cons of granite worktops" . A thread about "kitchens - lessons learned" popped up from MN and that was brilliantly useful.

Since then I check the news, politics, feminism etc boards but very rarely any of the parenting ones. I also get hopelessly involved with AIBU threads and waste hours reading them.

I love the Archers thread but as I only get to listen to the omnibus edition on Sundays then I daren't go on during the week for fear of spoilers.

MN has loads of good boards that are useful and have nothing to do with parenting. I also find that it's full of interesting and witty women, whether they are parents or not.

BulletFox · 17/12/2017 08:13

I was considering trying as an ex asked me to. So I joined whilst I thought about it.

Then I decided it was a bonkers idea

whirlygirly · 17/12/2017 08:14

I do have kids but rarely talk about them on here, to be fair.

bluebells1 · 17/12/2017 08:19

None of your business. Grin

Sparklingbrook · 17/12/2017 08:21

What a weird question. Have you looked at all the topics on MN OP? Loads of them don't involve having children/babies.

And YY to 'ladies'. Yuk.

RainyApril · 17/12/2017 08:25

I actually wish it had a different name. I have recommended this site to people for all sorts of reasons, from bereavement support to travel to Style & Beauty and always have to explain first that it isn't just mums discussing breastfeeding or whatever.

I am a parent but mainly like aibu, news, relationships and telly addicts. My friend came here for the doghouse.