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.

Have a SING Family Movie Night | Free Printable SING Popcorn Boxes

If you know me then you know that I love turning the ordinary into something a little special and as a family, we love movie nights, so when Universal Pictures Home Entertainment asked me to create a post celebrating the DVD release of SING I was so excited.  We decided to make movie night a little […]

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Handmade Fathers' Day Gift Ideas

Handmade Fathers’ Day Gift Ideas | Thoughtful & Creative Presents

We love anything handmade here in the Mad House.  I think that there is nothing better than a kid made gift or a homemade card.  Kids love getting involved and being creative and as a parent, there is nothing better than receiving something made by your child and Father’s Day is no exception.  So get

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Make a Toilet Roll Microphone for the SING Movie

Make a Toilet Roll Microphone for the SING Movie | Fun DIY Craft

This simple toilet roll microphone is in partnership with Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.  We are so excited for the release of the SING on Blu-ray and DVD on 22nd May, we have been getting prepared by making our own toilet roll microphone so we can sing along.

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DIY LEGO Fidget Spinners

Kid-Made DIY LEGO Fidget Spinners | Fun and Creative Project

We are deep in the middle of the fidget spinner craze here and both of my boys have a number of different fidget spinners.  However, this post has been totally inspired by Sarah from Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls DIY LEGO Fidget Spinner.  The boys came home from school and spend 20 minutes on the

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Women's Football and the Energy Behind it

Women’s Football and the Energy Behind It | Empowering the Game

I am a football Mum.  In fact, Maxi has been playing football for a team at the local football club since he was five years old. Over the years I have seen a massive transformation in grass roots football and now at our Football Club there are as many girls teams as there are boys

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The Best Fidget Toys for Kids | Top Picks for Focus and Fun

You might think that fidget toys are a new phenomenon, but the really are not.  It is just that they are currently being brought into the mainstream.  We were first introduced to them by Mini’s occupational therapist a few years back and we now have quite a selection, so I thought I would share with

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