Help, help please lovely Mumsnetters - we need one of you to talk to the Observer about what Mumsnet means to you...

[JustineMumsnet]

Amelia Hill, Social Affairs Correspondent for the Observer writes:

I am writing an article about the huge success of online parenting sites and why they are so useful.

I need to speak to a mother who can talk me through what sites like mumsnet.com mean to her - especially compared to parenting books or magazines.

As always, I'm afraid my deadline is very tight: I need to speak to someone tomorrow (Friday, 29th February), so can I please urge anyone who wants to help me to get in touch asap!

Many thanks

Amelia Hill
Social Affairs Correspondent
The Observer
3-7 Herbal Hill, London, EC1R 5EJ
landline: 020 7713 4997
mobile: 07967 366 938
fax: 020 7837 4729

yes, Cod's "She can ring me"
SNORT
proof that blogging goes to one's head, I think [wimk]

TITTER

If I speak to her tomorrow I will tell her that I am Cod (oh what fun)

well fgs SHE wants somethign!
im not runnign aroudn finding her to help her wiht ehr article!

tsk

Let's hope she hasn't been online this week. "MN means joining a car crash chat room and the chance to watch a bitch fight when I'm bored."

lol.
imo if someoen wants somehtign then they make the effort to get it!;)

I agree cod. No reason why you should do her job for her.

At times Mumsnet has been a lifeline to sanity and virtual mum. It's becoming an addicition and have meet lovely mumsnetters in real life as a result. My social life has improved in real life and have developed lovely friendships.

I'll speak to her if I can use one of my 'other' usernames...(ponders whether BollockyToss would look good in print )

To me, it's the fact that whatever the time of day, there is someone there with great advice or humour, or chit-chat, or practical help or just stern words and a much-needed kick up the backside!
You just don't get that from Real Life friends.

Also, I love the fact that in 20 minutes you can join in a discussion about edcuation, or Islam, talk about a great book, or a moral dilemma, laugh at someone else's sex life or just talk pure bollocks and let off some steam! And still have time to do RL stuff. I love the fact that you can interact with all these people and disengage at the click of a button. Wish I could do that in RL sometimes

ROFL.

She has to get on a train and pound the pavements, and bring a paparazzi photographer with her and they have to hang around outside the gym and shout questions at Cod as she keeps her head down and her sunglasses on.

'Hey, hey Cod, Cod! Here! How has MN helped you?'

LMAO... and cos says

"Arf.. you're craploa"

Um, that would be cod

Just wanted to warn you all, she WILL want your real name!

for me primarily is another parent or adult to talk to about anything when Dh was away we moved and I dint know anyone but by staying on mumsnet it decreased the feelings of loneliness
Its a conversation you can hark back to during the day and a place to put things into perspective I think most women over analyse things I am one of these it helps me to organise my thoughts in a non controversial way and then be able to talk in real life about things with out so much acrimony!!!

I have laughed and learned so many things on mumsnet and I appreciate that I am not alone in situations

its done nothing to improve my typing ability alas

Being able to find someone that agrees with what you think, and someone who disagrees completely but still has a great argument for their view.

Not being looked at like some crazy bint if you try to engage someone in conversation about the things you find important even if to others they are miniscule.

Having more in common with people than just living close, parenting methods aren't something that are local to your area, they vary and change no matter what age/race/area/finacnial position/class you are. On here there are people that will know what you're talking about.

Somewhere to get real free tailored advice to your situation, often from professionals, always from someone who has experienced what you're going through.

Lastly, being able to get/give constructive criticism on parenting methods without it having to becoem isulting, not the same as speaking to the mums at the school gates or friends on where you/they are going wrong.

For me the question could be worded

"So, apart from being able to talk freely, frankly, and humourously about the real experience of motherhood, as opposed to the rose-tinted view that everyone else seems to adopt (perhaps in order to ensure that procreation actually occurs in this country), what exactly has Mumsnet done for you?"

ahundredtimes..........lolololol

no she has ot go for ht burn at the sross trainer

hi everyone. Just spoke to her regarding how everyone on mn has helped me from having a nervous breakdown and helping me find the strength to admit i am suffering dv and doing something about it. She asked me for a name to put in article and then asked my real name. Just gave her my first name. God have i done the right thing? Just wanted her to know without mn i would be in a really bad place. But she made me feel like i would be a bad parent to ds if i could not log on