How did you discover Mumsnet and what was your first impression?

[Meid]

With all the talk recently about changing Mumsnet, not changing Mumsnet, old Mumsnetters, new Mumsnetters etc. I was just wondering how everyone discovered Mumsnet and what was appealing about it to stick around.

I discovered Mumsnet about a year ago - recommended by my SIL. My first impression was how useful this website could be to me.

I was instantly hooked on the variety of things being discussed and comforted to find people with in similar situations to my own. I love it when someone comes up with a piece of sound advice and the next post is someone else saying they had tried that and it didn't work for them. And I am intrigued to read parenting problems that don't yet apply to me - I think "I now know how to deal with that when we reach that stage"!

I would say the things that appealed to me in the first place about Mumsnet are still very much here and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

I discovered it while I was looking for information about Post Natal Depression. I had been suffering for 18 mths and hadn't told anyone or found any help. DP was at the end of his tether with me!

I found Mumsnet and WOW.... I'm normal after all! It felt like such a relief to type all my thoughts out and all the hidden feelings I had during my deep depression. Suddenly, I didn't feel like a bad parent, a failure, a lunatic etc etc. So many people offered advice and I've made friends as a result.

Thanks Mumsnet.

Found it when surfing for 'child friendly holidays' the week after we returned from holiday with our 9 months old!! Clearly the reviews are finding lots of people...
Can't really remember my first impression but I know I felt on the same wavelength as a lot of the postings - first time I'd looked at a specifically parenting site and I must say the other ones I've looked at since just aren't the same at all

Oxocube I suspect mine was found it for me so I wouldn't notice him sneaking off to go fishing!

I'd heard of mumsnet a while before I started logging on - Carrie used to book her holidays with the travel agency I used to work for (she may still do for all I know) - I think my boss there did some stuff on mumsnet with regards to holiday advice for families.
Then last year when I found myself struggling with being a step-mum I turned to mumsnet, and found great advice and support, and suddenly got the confirmation I needed that what i was doing was bloody hard work! Even though I'm not a "biological" parent the website facinates me, I still log-on to read up on stuff - preparing for when I do become a full time mum!!

A friend told about this thread. I get lots of support from it and I enjoy helping others out if I can. My only criticism is that I can get quite addicted which really annoys DH

I loved it the minute I logged on.

I found mumsnet when I was searching for reviews on car seats. Then I found the talk and thought it was brilliant. I love the way all the messages for one topic go on the same page together so you can quickly scroll through, rather than having to press next and wait for a new page to load just to read a three word comment, like you do on many others.

I also love the fact that there's always loads of people posting on here and everyone seems really happy to try and give you advice. I posted a topic on another one (which shall remain nameless) a while ago about a pregnancy worry I had and no-one replied for 2 days, by which time I'd sorted it out and forgotten about it!!! Here it's totally different. I just posted on one topic and by the time I'd read another, I had a reply to my post!!! At least then you know there's people out there and you're not on your own!!!

If it was up to me, I'd want it to stay exactly the same, I think it's excellent.

Immediate addiction.

100% aggree with Meid.

SueW - no objection

i live in south africa (any other south-africans on here?) and read about mumsnet in a baby magazine - my first in ages - had my 6th baby 4 months ago so figured i'd better do sum brushing up on my baby skills lol ... think its great here, log on evry chance i get!

funkymunky - if you've just had your 6th baby, you've probably forgotten more than the rest of us will ever know!

ps I first posted in Sept 2000 after seeing an article in the Times. Have not been around much recently since going back to work, but summer hols have given me time to surf again. I echo what others have said about non-response to threads, but at other times I have been overwhelmed by the deep kindness and support I have found at some very painful times in my life.

Scummymummy - my bro also has a radio flyer for his 2 kids, and they love it

My first impression?

Ohhhhhh I love this!

it's as simple as that.

I was at work one day snooping on the internet, which we're strictly forbidden to do, at the bbc site and I typed in parenting to the search engine and it was a bbci recommended site. So when I got home that night I had a look and I've been here ever since.

I love all the different topics and how some are serious and some are fun. I've also had some good advice from people that i know I wouldn't get on other sites. It's easy to read and a lot more straight forward than other message boards that I've been to in the past.

Everyone who posts here is so friendly and supportive I honestly don't know what I'd do without my daily fix of mumsnet.

I saw an article in a baby magazine about 6 weeks ago, and thought I'd have a look. First impressions is that everybody knows everyone already - so feel a bit of an outsider, but I enjoy reading all the postings and occasionally get the nerve up to post something.

Found it whilst looking for parenting stuff on the web, and first impressions were WOW - LOVE IT!

Still love it. Only been here for a couple of months but I plan to stick around.