Come and celebrate our new [thanks] emoticon by saying Thank You to a Mumsnetter who's made a difference. Spot prizes to be won and all!

[HelenMumsnet]

Hello.

We have a new emoticon:

It's meant as a way for say thank you to someone for something nice/funny/amazing they've done or said. And it's in no small way inspired by the lovely Mumsnet Blanket Crew who've been agitating- very politely but very persistently - for a thank you emoticon for some time now. (They originally wanted a star but we thought a bunch of flowers probably had a bit less of the 'prefecty'/'sticker chart' thing going on.)

We want to mark the arrival of our new emoticon by starting this special Thank You thread - and inviting you to say to another Mumsnetter who's made a difference to you.

Perhaps it's a Mumsnetter who has posted (or PM'd) something that helped you or supported you or inspired you ? or just made you laugh like a drain. Or maybe it's someone who's done something extraordinary for you, off-board or on.

Do come and tell us about it - and thank her/him for it - here. We're hoping for a thread full of for some truly lovely MNers.

Oh, and we've also got some rather covetable prizes - books, toys and some very cool (child and adult) bike helmets from Bell - to give away as spot prizes. Anyone who posts on this thread is in with a chance of winning - we'll pull names at random out of a hat in a couple of days' time.

, MNHQ

Thank you herbie

(Have ditched Sancti again, I get sick of saying (BTW you do know I am peachy right?) )

and to those who thanked me. It's an absolute pleasure to help women with their tricky employment issues, and I always feel great when someone comes back and says their employer is now paying them holiday pay during their maternity leave, or is giving them their childcare vouchers or whatever it is. Updates are great.

(AIBU to also feel a bit as well as when, after I tell someone "er no your employer is absolutely right actually" they frequently slink off never to be seen again..?!)

Employees are in a vulnerable position as often they don't know their rights and/or don't know how to exercise them, and/or can't afford legal advice. So although I don't take on private clients in RL, I'm glad to help on here. Keeps me on my legal toes as well!

I would also like to say to MN. Many many posters have helped me in the past, seeing me through from newborn stage with my PFB to school age, and hundreds of non child-related stuff as well. I've spent a fortune thanks to the S&B threads as well, and learned so so much from all sorts of topics. Although I am so busy I rarely post outside Employment much any more, if I need to know something, the MN search function comes into it's own, and I do a lot of lurking as well.

More for the lovely nobdies been having a bit of a 'mare recently in RL and they have been there and kept me laughing which is what is needed. nobblies!!

And too to MN - I so wish I'd found you six years ago

Thanks to babyheave to reading my crap l

Chaos for making me
to the SN regliers
Pagwatch for naming me
to anyone who has ever read, listened and responded to my many moans, gripes, whinges and panics ove the years. Too many to name.

to KBear who came over and chatted to me last weekend at the Westfield MN Spyrokids event. Was nervous of meeting anyone, we are now fb mates and everything.

Thanks to babyheave to reading my crap like all the time and being forever understanding not to mention untiringly witty. She has so much to deal with herself, so much more than I, but alwAys knows what to say and delivers with great humour.

My thanks also goes to another of my mm commorades who is under cover ATM but she knows who she is

to the posters on the school appeals threads, admission, prh47 and panelmember in particular. I joined MN after searching for help on a primary school appeal for a friend. Their advice is brilliant and they, like so many others here, give their time and help for free. Thanks to them my friend won her appeal.

to Constance for appreciating my humour. The people who do are on a short, but imortant, list

My goes to kingprawntikka

I saw what you did today in the mental health topic.

I would like to send to LuluMama as if it wasn't for her encouragement I really don't think I would of gone on to have dd. Dd turns one on Saturday

to Amberlight for broadening my view of the world, and letting us into your world.

to the tea room crew for being my mates.

to fellatio for letting me embrace my inner ponce

to Carrie and Justine

to all my friends on our 40 Towers thread

And dittany. I learned a lot from you.

to all those on the carseat advice threads, who promote the use of rear-facing carseats for longer than one year old. Valuable information.

to mrz who consistently dishes out honest advice and practical help over in primary education.

And to flowery for all the help and advice on employment issues.

And to thefirstMrsDeVere for just being you...wisdom personified.

I just wanna say to any Mnetter who takes time out ever to answer a genuine plea genuinely and using their considerable wealth of experience. It's that kind of help in a huge variety of situations, often in crises, that makes MN the valuable resource it is. I especially want to send to all the brave gals who have passed through or stayed in the Hut of Gl/doom over the years for continuing to support each other despite immense personal sadness of their own (yes, lissie, I'm particularly looking at you!).

to all the lovely people who take the time to talk to respond to people who are feeling lost and alone.

to all the MN feminists for making me think.

to MNHQ for a site where we can find a recipe, get emotional support, have a rant and discuss pirate sex.

to too many to mention for making me laugh so much that people have come to check that I'm not choking.

to Hecate for being so supportive about something I had name changed to talk about. Your one sympathetic pm was worth more than the entire flaming I was getting on the board :)

A huuuuuuge to AnyFucker and WhenWillIFeelNormal for all their excellent advice on the relationship board. I have been lurking rather than posting myself but the advice they have given to others has helped to save my marriage.

WhenWillIFeelNormal, if you are around still and see this, I know you got some grief and I want to say thank you your advice has made such a great difference to my relationship and my life!

to mrz for always taking the time to answer education questions in a sensible and informative way - many a school related angst has been calmed by her!

to the mumsnetters who donated to SANDS in honour of my baby girl.
to the ladies on the bereaved mothers thread.
to the most fantastically supportive woman on the Feb 2011 threads, I could not have got through the past 7 months without the wonderful support. I am forever grateful.
to wigglesrock who always remembers the dates.

Oh there are so many MNers who have helped me and made a real difference to my life over the years, but I have such a bad memory for names!

(It feels unfair to thank only those whose names I remember!)

Mears, Tiktok, Hunkermunker, theoriginalFAB, and many many others who have supported me and helped me over the years.

also to posters who have allowed me to support them. Having depression is shit, but knowing that my experience can help others makes it just that little but significant bit better.

BTW, MNHQ, personally I would have preferred the that Pidge, Knotty et al were agitating for, precisely because of its tongue-in-cheek star-chartiness. The flowers are, dare I say it, a touch...mumsy.

But anyway