Jen Walshaw | Mum In The Madhouse

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Author name: Jen Walshaw

Mum-in-charge Jen Walshaw runs the UK’s top parenting blog Mum in the Madhouse, and she describes herself as a “fat, feisty and over 50” Northerner. Based in North Yorkshire, she’s mum to young adults and a big believer that family life is messy, creative and fun. In 2009 a double mastectomy gave her the nudge to start blogging; with two boys under three she needed an outlet and a digital scrapbook to capture their chaos.Jen’s posts are a mix of crafts, kid‑friendly recipes and honest parenting, peppered with northern humour. She’s happiest when up to her elbows in tea, fabric and pizza dough – sewing and making homemade gifts – before sneaking off to write about it. As a proud Northerner she warns PRs that a “quick pop down to London” isn’t quick at all. Her blog has earned her a stack of accolades, including the Cision #1 Mummy Blogger title in 2024  and consistently topping Vuelio and Tots100 parenting‑blog charts. Whether she’s advocating for diversity and body neutrality or sharing tales of parenting teens, Jen keeps things chatty, real and refreshingly down‑to‑earth.

Homeschool Backyard PE – Keeping Kids Active in the Garden

We are currently living in unprecedented times and with the UK in virtual lockdown having a garden or a backyard is an amazing resource and we are going to find it playing outside a vital part of our day to day lives. So here are some fabulous way to get the kids exercising in the garden backyard and fun ways to keep kids active in the garden.

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How to talk to kids about Coronavirus without scaring them

There is so much information surrounding Coronavirus that even as an adult it scares me, which is why it is so important to talk to kids about coronavirus but in a way that will not scare the s^%$ out of them. As a parent, I always think it is better that they here age-appropriate information form us rather than hearsay and fear from the playground or fear-mongering from the media.

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Homemade Mother’s Day Cards for Kids to Make – Creative DIY Ideas

There is nothing nicer than a homemade Mothers Day card, especially ones made by your kids.  I am a huge fan of homemade mother’s day cards made by my boys and I have pictures of all the ones they have made during the years, they are a great way of saying happy mother’s day. So

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5 Reasons Why you Should Print your Favourite Family Photos

As a family, we take more photos than ever before. It is estimated that in 2020 over 1.4 trillion digital photographs will be taken. Many are shared on social media but many more will be forgotten. With so many photos taken it can be hard to decide which ones to print or to even bother to print any at all.

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