To wonder why those who aren’t mums are on mumsnet?

[Blue09]

Not that I’m against it - I’m just curious really!

Because it's one of the most popular sites going and topics aren't limited to"mum" things (whatever they are supposed to be).

I arrived years ago by searching 5:2 diet and stayed. I am a parent but rarely use mumsnet for parent stuff.

Most topics dont really relate to being a mum so it's just good chat!

Because I love reading random bullshit on threads and forums all day! And not every story is to do with children.

Because there are a billion topics that have nothing to do with being a mum and google will often take you to a thread. Then you just fall through the Mumsnet wormhole for 7 hours...

I have step kids, and I find topics on everything on here, It's far from 'just' a parenting site.

YABU.

Look at all the different topics. Loads of them that don't have anything to do with parenting whatsoever.

Cos women are people!

Men arent divided into fathers and non fathers are they?

My kids are teens so i hide all the poo and weaning type threads.

Because we want to be.
Because life can be lonely and this is a way of interacting with people (me a few years and NC ago).
Because it's funny and interesting and full of awesome women who we love to talk to
Because it's somewhere where we can admit to the pain that we feel by not having children
Because there are some batshit crazy dog owners out there who make me feel as if I'm not the only one.

HTH

@sparklingbrook

In my defence the blurb underneath the mumsnet logo on the top left hand side states “by parents for parents”...

Although a parent now, I found MN because of AIBU and o ky really use it for that as AIBU is hilarious!

So you only ever go on child related threads do you?
Never fancy a chat or AIBU or want chat gardening housekeeping, holidays cooking. Need any medical or weight lose advice or want to chat about what’s happening in news. Or have any hobbies or watch films or Tv or intersted in politics or history or the arts. Or travel or shopping or style and beauty or pets or have any want any career advice? Or move house or want visit new places or need relationship advice?

I want to do all the above there isn’t another place like it. I don’t have to read the 5% of threads that are solely for parents even though I have lots of childcare advice to offer on a professional basis. Just don’t “have one” myself.

The website may well be mainly for parents but the talk boards aren’t - have you ever looked at all the topics available?

I like kids but can’t have them, this website helps me to cope :)

@Blue09 oh you're completely right but unfortunately for you Mumsnet has blown way out of proportion and now you'll find people with no children... step parents... all over here, so if you have a problem then

First joined when pregnant.... then for support when miscarried, and now find support in the infertility section . And discovered I also enjoy the general chat in other areas.

Because most of the threads here on active/chat etc aren't even about parenting and I can keep up to date with current affairs/different opinions.

@Blue09 unfortunately for you the main topics are mostly not kid related anymore!

Literally just for the weird as hell posts you get on here sometimes. They make me laugh.

It’s a highly varied forum, I enjoy the fact it’s fairly UL based (I also love all non UK posters, but it is nice for a site to be quite UK culture centric) I love the dilemma, the opinions from all walks of life, the views of so many women (and men tbf)

I came for the parenting advice but I stay because it's the only forum I know of that predominantly women use and isn't about dating. I would actually like to know if there are other places that do as wide a range of topics for, predominantly, women.

I thinkthe 'by parents for parents' thing dates back to when MN started about 18 years ago or something.

Presumably it's a very different place now. I joined in 2011 and it's really different to then.

If you want health or education advice would you only want it from someone who was a parent?

Eek OP that's pretty inflammatory. You only have to go to the infertility board to understand that some members aren't mums.

I'm pregnant now but came long before I was. I like discussion boards anyway and this one, with its mix of witty snark, hilarious anecdotes and genuine kindness extended to those who are in trouble appealed to me. I like the crowd you get on here too - you get the sense most are smart cookies!