Vipers' nest? Come counter our hissy rep with your stories of Mumsnet Niceness

[HelenMumsnet]

Hello.

Well, it's been bit of a week, hasn't it?

And we don't know about you but we think it's time folks outside MN knew a bit more about the lovely side of Mumsnet. All this stuff about harridans and vipers' nests kinda feels a bit lopsided to us - and is certainly making us pull on our Uggs and want to redress the balance a bit.

We're really chuffed to see such kind words about MN on Talk at the moment and also to see blogs like MmeLindor's that focus so beautifully on the "other side" of Mumsnet.

But we also want to publish, for all the world and the odd tabloid journo to see, a kinda showcase/archive of all the Lovely & Nice Things Mumsnetters Have Done over the years. And we'd really like your help with that, please.

Obviously, we have lots of Mumsnet Loveliness in mind already: ranging from Woolly Hugs to the Christmas Appeal and including everything from the lost toy on Blackpool Pier to the small acts of kindness shown every day from one MNer to another in need of help, advice or support.

But we really want you to tell us, too, about the Lovely Things you've seen (or taken part in) on Mumsnet. Please post them here - with links to the threads if you possibly can.

We'll read them all and, when we've run out of tissues, we'll publish some of your favourites for all the world to see.

Oh, and here's a pic of (warm and lovely) nest of vipers, courtesy of the fab women behind Woolly Hugs, to kinda set the tone

I love MN.

The support and kindness here are fab. And the humour!

We are ridiculous sometimes (museum of toddler art, anyone?)! but we are sublime.

I think it is all fine- they just need to reformat MumsNet Talk so that you have to search for topics and it is obvious which are for support and which are for debate. Some are safe, bereavement for example isn't going to get people wandering in being nasty but something like SN isn't safe. I never go onto the one about dogs because I don't have a dog but it came to my attention that you can have real bunfights in there! I was amazed!

I have a photo of dd1, now 5, when she was about 5 months. She is pretending to eat a trifle for OJ's DH. We all ate trifles for Steve that day. I might have eaten several

And yy to the miscarriage board and all the support I was given when I was sent home to wait for an ERPC with a one sided leaflet and almost zero information.

What a lovely idea MNHQ

I've been involved in lots of loveliness on here; several Christmas campaigns (as donor and also, once, as recipient which blew me away completely); putting a rescue package together for one of our PN group with an ill DD; MN Woolly hugs, both as crafter and recipient of wool when I was skint; as the recipient of a lovely box of goodies from my MN mates, when I was the first of my original AN thread to sprog again far too soon; Lulumama taking the time to talk to me on the phone about my options regarding VBAC and elective CS and making a CS personal when I was pregnant with DD; the support on here giving me the strength to actually attempt and manage a VBA2C with DS2; the support in general and the fact that complete strangers will go the extra mile to help people in their hour of need.

Journos should realise that AIBU (which is what I assume gets us the "viper" tag) is only a teeny tiny part of MN!

OMG - Gwendoline - trifle for Steve. Bittersweet memories.

I think we come together here and do things we thought we may never had done before. I was once ready to run down the road at 11pm here in North London,braless, clutching piriton for a member's friend who was having a bad reaction to her chemo. Turned out I didn't need to,as I believe the lady had a queue outside her door of MNetters with medicine!

Someone once sent me some unwanted clothing on the "I have but don't need...." thread. When I received the parcel...she had put in a yummy bar of chocolate as well, and had written a smiley face on the packet.

Says it all really

Thinking back, I think the first I'd ever heard of MN was from a leaflet I got when I had my MC. This was almost 8 years ago.

Oh - and I only half remembered the name of the site and ended up joining netmums :o

I drove 10 miles down the road at about midnight one night to see if someone's DH's car was outside a particular house and report back. I'd forgotten about that!

I just,love NLs description of the Hive Mind. For good or Ill.

I first found MN after googling my symptoms when I was feeling very ill at 9 wks pg. I found the fabulous LucindaE's HG thread and it pretty much saved my life. My doctor wasn't listening and only going back in with the knowledge I found on here got me a diagnosis. By that point I was so dehydrated my veins had collapsed and my potassium levels were so low there was a major risk of kidney damage. I was hospitalised for a long time. Everyone on that thread then supported me throughout what turned out to be a very scary and stressful pregnancy.

I learned about the "count the kicks" campaign on here and bought a wrist band. I was admitted several times for reduced movement. The final time they decided to induce. After a terrifyingly quick labour DS was born blue and floppy with the cord around his neck. Thankfully he was resuscitated very quickly and has suffered no ill effects. Without MN I wouldn't have pushed the midwives to act. I would has trusted their advice that movements slow down the closer you get to full term. My DS would have died.

When my whole world collapsed 4 months later the nest of vipers came to my rescue again. My then DH had a fling with a mutual friend. I started a thread the next day and the instant flood of support was just overwhelming. They literally got me through it minute by minute. There is no way in the world I would have had the strength to do what I've done without this place.

A year later and MN is my company when I'm lonely. It's often the only adult conversation I have in a day. It's also friffing hilarious!

It's no exaggeration to say that MN has changed my life.

I have been on Mumsnet since 2004 and still love it as much as ever!

I was at Weightwatchers on off for 20 years, losing and gaining the same stone......could not face it again.

I looked at a low carb thread in Jan with Biwi and her gang and have now lost 20lbs!!!

The support is amazing and invaluable and I have made some great friends. Biwi even strokes my hair. Tis lovely.

MN has literally changed my life. It has given me the realisation that my relationship is not normal, and the support (both practical and hand holding) to actually gather myself and leave (very soon) the emotional abusing twunt that I have wasted 10 yrs of life on. Nowhere in real life could have provided me with the support that I've had from a bunch of strangers who truly understand what I'm going through because they've been there too.

I can't remember everlong, it was years ago. I don't think it was another woman scenario. I seem to recall it being a family squabble or something and the person's house was BIL or something. The car wasn't there anyway.

MN has helped me in so many ways. From my first post, where I asked for advice on ditching the dummy and got wise thoughts, mostly along the lines of "why bother, it's no big deal, leave it until he's ready".

Through a couple of life changing upheavals where wonderful MNers held my hand through very dark times, at all hours. They helped me through turmoil, stuck beside me, 'listened' and supported. They made the unbearable bearable minute by minute and I will be eternally grateful. I'm lucky to have a good network of supportive friends and family IRL, however it was Mumsnetters that helped me most when I was in dispair.

Some people in the media have made up their minds about MN, I'm not sure they are the types who are open to changing their opinions. But really, it takes a small amount of simple research to see the truth. Maybe the truth, however lovely just doesn't make good news .

Using MN is like swimming in at the seaside in the UK.
There is no point faffing about at the edges, jumping back because the water is cold, a bit of seaweed just wrapped itself around your ankle or you stood on a sharp stone.
You have to commit to it - wade on in there until you are up to your neck, start splashing about, envelop yourself in it and join in with all the other people splashing around.
It's a lovely place to be and the sense of well-being persists long after you stagger out and towel yourself down.

OK - so once in a while a turd floats past or you have a close encounter with a dead crab, but mostly it is an absolute, life-affirming pleasure to be here.

The night DS was born, I was scared and alone in a hospital bed. He'd had suctioning and CPR, wasn't feeding, and DH had been chucked out as it was the middle of the night. I was more scared than I've been in my life and MN was there for me. I got replies to my post saying HELP faster than I could get a midwife by my bedside. I'm so, so grateful for Mumsnet. Every single day.

Millions of users vs a couple of whiney posts in the DM? No contest.

This is hard.
As parent to kids with SN I really do see the good here, but there's horrible trollery towards people in my situation. And big fat silence about that.

It's a great site. Unless you're 'different'.

Mumsnet is my google when I want to not only know about something, but to get real user feedback sort of thing?

Ive had loads and loads of advice type stuff from reading the SN boards, support too.

Ive been in awe of the wooly hugs people, so kind and what a thing to organise! RatherbeonthePiste and the others [so sorry I cant remember the name] are amazing. Im a shit knitter so donated wool instead.

I agree with the person who said about all the stuff that goes unseen, I have been touched by PMs Ive received from people.

Ive learned loads about stuff Ive had no experience of.

I have appreciated when MNetters have posted on threads and sent PMs thanking me for sharing my experiences on having a child with SNs and offering support on some rather heated threads involving children with special needs. Some lovely lovely people who have stood up to be counted when they didn't need to, but just because they thought it was the right thing to do. There are quite a few and I don't really want to write names because I know I will forget someone important! Kungfupanda sticks in my mind though, 5madthings is another. When I remember the rest I will come back and post their names too.

I love reading the ghosty/weird stuff that happened type threads and the embarrassing things that happened to people ones are so funny and have me shaking with laughter until I have to read the posts out to whoever says 'why are you laughing Mum'

Mumsnet is so many things and it is fabulous.

I will never forget crying with laughter at the whole garlic clove up the bum thread.

I also feel far more confident as a mother and a woman since finding this site. I find I am more understanding of what others are going through on the one hand, yet less inclined to put up with twattery in real life.

Avasiatropolis or something like that [really bad at remembering names!] was another lovely one who offered support at a particularly hard time between christmas and new year.

Penelo, I'm really sorry to hear that.