If you don't have or want children, why are you here?

[pepsicolagirl]

Disclaimer: I do not mean this in a rude way. I just couldn't think of a better way to phrase it.

I have seen a few messages across the mumsnet forums from women who are happily child free which is great and of course there is nothing wrong with at all.

But it always makes me wonder why you would be a member of a website called mumsnet if you are not and have no wish to be a mum?
So, if this is you, do you mind me asking why?

Because I genuinely think MN is the forefront of the new women's lib movement.

I don’t consider myself new to the site and I’ve never seen this question as a stand-alone thread

You've missed a lot then. This question is frequently asked.

My 2 are nearly 24 and 21, been here a long time and probably will until I get bored of the place.

In my case I initially came on because I use a different forum which referenced a funny thread on here.

I continue to use it because there are lots of interesting threads on here and I am exposed to the thoughts of a much wider range of people than I would be otherwise.

Also I am just generally curious and not having kids I probably get to understand a bit better the concerns of parents by hearing some of the concerns on here.

I came for one of the viral threads from years ago (bake sale Chocolate Nests anyone?) and stayed for the continued fun. I’m a sucker for the drama 🤷🏼‍♀️

Mumsnet Madness brought me here.
Some of the madder AIBU threads sucked me in to staying.
Threads like this make me wonder why!

My kids are adults however i came across mumsnet when i was having some personal problems and put them into google. I didn't realise that mumsnet covered such a wide variety of topics and had some fantastic advice.
Also having been through lots when the kids were growing up perhaps i can help someone else who is having problems. If however i had seen an ad for a site named mumsnet i wouldn't have bothered with it as i would have assumed it was only for women with young children

@KatherineJaneway

I don’t consider myself new to the site and I’ve never seen this question as a stand-alone thread

You've missed a lot then. This question is frequently asked.

Yes because I don’t look at every single thread and this has never come up in active for me before. Just another reason why this is legit question. I’d hate to think I can’t ask a question in case it’s been asked before or must I check in the (crappy) search function before I do so. This could have and in some parts has been an interesting question as some bothered to actually answer it.

The regularity of the question has reminded me to wash my bedclothes again

To mention how much they dislike children at every opportunity - someone's even done it on this thread.

And the cool parents join in saying they only bearly tolerate their own children, ugh ugh at other people's.

And no one connects the dots between a society which dislikes children for being children and also has atrociously funded social services, dire maternity care etc.

It’s one of the most active forums there is. I used to be a huge fan of the IMDB forums - then they closed them. Loved Digital Spy as well - then they closed ‘General Discussion’ down, I occasionally still visit other topics on there, but there’s a lot less traffic these days.

I’m too old for the Student Room, hate the hunnage on Net Mums and don’t really know of any other forums.

About eight years ago, I was at my wits' end with my passport renewal! I think there weren't enough staff issuing passports for the demand of the summer due to government cuts - so there was a massive backlog of passports and I was meant to be travelling soon! I Googled it and a forum on Mumsnet came up and it helped me so much. I wouldn't have gone away if it wasn't for Mumsnet's help .

I've been here ever since and it's a good forum. Most sections aren't dedicated to parenting anyway.

@allChrissyPlummer, I always found with Student Room - if you didn't go to a Russell Group university then you'd be naturally judged .

@WithIcePlease

The regularity of the question has reminded me to wash my bedclothes again

And also to think about how often do you shower
The only permitted answers are 1) every hour on the hour or 2) on New Years Day.

And the cool parents join in saying they only bearly tolerate their own children, ugh ugh at other people's.

Since when has it been necessary to like other people's kids? Have you met other people's kids? I mean they're fine in small doses but I can totally understand the 'urgh' feeling at times. There's a reason why they say kids are hard work and that's why you only love your own!

Well it's mentioned on Twitter, daily mail etc, that could send people here to check it out. All are welcome and it's good to have a variety of opinions, not just Those of mothers or want to be mothers.

I'm a mum, I think it is very understandable why this forum attracts mums/notmums etc., there is something for most on this forum. The more the merrier .

What I don't understand is the (not few) threads about being child free (not always positively put) there are. If you go on a forum designed for a specific audience there is no need to slack them off (especially considering all those posters having difficulties conceiving).

I hide most of the topics involving children. And S&B.
Still leaves me dozens of interesting topics on feminism, politics, gardening, cats and AIBU which I use instead of tabloids and reality tv.

I do find women who can only talk about their babies and children are only tolerable for a while.

I found the site last year during lockdown. Wasn't working so all the AIBU threads got me through some long boring days!

I'm childfree and in my 50s.

I came here at 41 when i was a step parent to ex Dps 10 year old and 13 year old to get a better understanding of my situation.

we split, they grew but I stayed here due to:

the litter tray
chat
the fucking brilliant feminism board
travel
relationships
telly addicts
politics
radio addicts

etc. etc.

Its the largest and best chat board for women as far as Im concerned. I used to be on iVillage and Reddit but MN is better.

@Coldwine75

I think that all the time, Mumsnet is 'by parents, for parents'..................

If that's the case, explain why there's so many talk topics that don't revolve around children? Or are you only allowed to discuss gardening and general health if you're a parent?

Jeeeze people, leave the poor OP alone! She said from the off she didn't mean her question rudely.

Anyway, though I do have children, they're in their 30s so I'm not here for the baby/child stuff. Like many, I followed a Google result (can't for the life of me remember what subject) and ended up on AIBU because I had nothing better to do that day.

I have avoided some mistakes when it comes to parenting adult daughters though, and more recently being a tactful newish grandparent, through reading complaints here. But the mother of my DGD is made of sterner stuff than many here, and when I check before I do something that some MNers object to, she looks at me like I'm mad and says "of course it's okay!"

This again? Really! Part of me wishes they'd just change the name of the site so we never have to see this stupid question again.

I’m a dog mum and signed up for the puppyhood survival threads 😂😂

I think there must be loads of other forums this is essentially a parenting site, would be better to re name it as saying its by parents for parents is a bit misleading then?