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.

taste safe Jelly Bean Watercolours

Make your own Jelly Bean Watercolours (Taste Safe)

Do you have a little one that likes to put everything in their mouth? Well, these jelly bean watercolours are a great sensory activity that is totally taste safe. Sometimes it can be challenging when you want to do an art activity when you have kids of different ages to find something suitable. Maxi always

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Chicken Sausages and Roasted Vegetable Traybake

Chicken Sausages and Roasted Vegetable Traybake is a paid collaboration with Richmond Chicken Sausages.  I was lucky enough to attend the launch of Richmond Chicken Sausages last week and after trying our some fabulous recipes using them cooked by Angelica Bell (who won celebrity Masterchef) I came home inspired.  They were truly delicious and have 30% less fat and

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Body Confidence - Has it become an issue of privilege?

Body Positivity – Has it become an issue of privilege?

Are you bikini ready and body confident? I’m really struggling at the moment with body positivity. Having gone through a double mastectomy and failed reconstruction, I was always going to have issues with my changed body. However, it has really come to the fore this spring with the influx of social media campaigns declaring that

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National Citizen Service (NCS) – Why it is a must for your Teen

National Citizen Service (NCS) – Why it is a must for your Teen is a paid collaboration in conjunction with @Tots100 and National Citizen Service (NCS). Have you heard of the National Citizen Service yet? Well if like me you have a teenager then the NCS will definitely be of interest to you and your child.  Everyone

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