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.

Gardening is Fun For the Entire Family

Gardening is Fun for the Entire Family | Grow Together Outdoors

There are dozens of articles out there that talk about the importance of limiting your kids’ screen time. What most of these articles fail to do, however, is offer you alternative activities to keep your kids entertained and occupied and, with any luck, activities that will encourage them to learn. This is not going to

Gardening is Fun for the Entire Family | Grow Together Outdoors Read More »

The Benefits of KAPLA Block Play | Educational and Creative Fun

I am a HUGE fan of building blocks for children.  There are so many benefits for children to playing with blocks and wooden blocks are so tactile and a fabulous long-term investment for any parent or educational establishment.  As a parent, it can sometimes be really hard to see the benefit of such a simple

The Benefits of KAPLA Block Play | Educational and Creative Fun Read More »

Hot School Lunch Ideas for Kids perfect for Autumn and Winter

I am not going to lie,  but after 8 years of making packed lunches for Mini, it is not my favourite job, especially as he has an aversion to sandwiches but it is one that I am good at! It can be really easy to get stuck in a lunch box rut. So here are

Hot School Lunch Ideas for Kids perfect for Autumn and Winter Read More »