Jen Walshaw | Mum In The Madhouse

2026 Colouring Calendar!

Subscribe and receive our 2026 Kids Colouring Calendar for Free
Get the 13 Page Calendar by subscribing below.

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.

Five Easy Paper Craft Ideas You Can Do with the Kids | Fun Family Activities

We love paper craft here in the Mad House. Children enjoy being creative, and they are happy to spend time painting, sticking and cutting coloured paper making fun craft items at home. Paper crafting can be done with just a few stationery pieces that are inexpensive to buy. Try some of these simple ideas next […]

Five Easy Paper Craft Ideas You Can Do with the Kids | Fun Family Activities Read More »

20 Fun and Creative Clothespin Crafts Ideas

There is no need to just keep your wooden clothespins just for hanging clothes. Oh no, there are so many more uses for them than just that.  Take a look at these inspiring creative clothespeg crafts ideas. There really is a clothespin craft for all ages and abilities here.

20 Fun and Creative Clothespin Crafts Ideas Read More »

DIY Etched Wooden Heart Keyrings

DIY Etched Wooden Heart Keyrings

As my boys’ get older encouraging them to be creative is becoming harder and hard but they both loved making these DIY etched wooden heart keyrings perhaps it had something to do with the fact that they were using a burning tool!  I am warning you this is so addictive we now want to etch everything

DIY Etched Wooden Heart Keyrings Read More »

Terrific Fakeaways | Delicious Recipes to Replace Takeaways

Ditch the Takeaways this with these amazing Fakeaways.  Like the next person I love a good takeaway, but my wallet and waistline doesn’t always agree with me.  So I have scoured the internet to bring you some amazing fakeaways that are simple to make, delicious to eat and wallet-friendly.  Some of these are also slimming world

Terrific Fakeaways | Delicious Recipes to Replace Takeaways Read More »