How has MN helped you???

[miam]

I am amazed at how MN has invaded my life and brought about some great changes. Thanks to Feeling Low threads I have managed to deal with depression, thanks to BigMamas I have lost an additional 10lbs. Thanks to the 'what colour is your hair' thread, I have died my hair so that it is no longer 2-tone, thanks to 'what knickers are you wearing' thread I now wear lovely matching undies (dh says thanks too..), thanks to the sit-up thread I am now actually exercising and thanks to all the other threads I now have a wealth of information on childcare issues and got to know loads of lovely people. Some of my changes are trivial I know, but have been good for me so thanks thanks thanks!!

So, has anything on MN encouraged you to change parts of your life?

Oooh, where do I start?

MN stopped it being a big shock when i found out dd had GBS,

helped me when I had loads of trouble bf'ing and when I felt guilty switching to formula,

helped me leave UH and deal with the sh*te afterwards - for which I'm eternally grateful,

answered loads of odd questions here and there and taught me a lot,

forced me to lose weight,

given me new friends and 1000's of laughs!!!!

.....in return it has taken many hours of my life away but hey, small price to pay!!!

Helped me make friends (RL and online) with other mums, as majority of my friends don't have children and I am scared(!) on mum & toddler groups.

BigMamas helped me lose over a stone earlier in the year. About to rejoin this week

TTC threads are keeping me supported and full of advice now that DH and I have decided to have a second child.

And just lots more stuff - advice about tons of stuff, support, chat, fun, awareness of other issues, etc.

Stopped me from feeling lonely when I knew no other English speakers
Helped me with dinner parties
Helped me with 'dry night' issues
Given me loads and loads of laughs and a huge phone bill!!
It's been (and hopefully will continue to be) a fabulous source of information and I can't live without it now!

I was feeling really down recently and contemplating going back to work even though I really want to be a good SAHM. Chatting on here helped me get things moving. I've joined groups with dd, always go out at least once a day even if its only to the park and I've started taking my driving lessons again. I am really starting to enjoy being a SAHM and a big part of that is thanks to Mumsnet

has made me some lovely friends. really helped me thro bad bad sleep time when ds was about 5 months old. answers questions really quickly and very reassuringly...generally an amazing site!

Helped me to a home birth - the right decision for me, and one I'm so grateful for
Helped me to keep breastfeeding and EXPRESSING
Got me through the first months of dd2's life with slightly more sanity than the same with dd1
Made me LAUGH.

Helped me find well hung met
Helped me find good bum cream for sore botty
Helped me emotionally, esp SN board
Given me a good laugh (Coddy!)
Made me realise I am not alone in knowing all about Balamory
Lots and lots of other things.....