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.

Cook with your Grandkids

Cook with Your Grandkids | Fun and Memorable Family Recipes

As you know I am passionate about cooking with kids and one of the things that make me sad is that my boys can not learn to cook and bake with my mum like I did, especially as this coming Sunday 2nd October is Grandparents Day.  But I am delighted to be working on this fab #CookSomethingGrand

Cook with Your Grandkids | Fun and Memorable Family Recipes Read More »

Chicken Tikka Masala - Cooking with Kids

Chicken Tikka Masala – Cooking with Kids

This Chicken Tikka Masala was cooked by Mini aged ten from scratch and I can tell you it was absolutely delicious.  I am delighted to have teamed up with Uncle Ben’s to highlight their fantastic Ben’s Beginners cooking hub on the lead up to International Cook With Your Kids Day on 15th October 2016.

Chicken Tikka Masala – Cooking with Kids Read More »

Design a Dream Pet

Design a Dream Pet | Creative Drawing Prompt for Kids

I find using a drawing prompt a great idea when sometimes children freeze when presented with a blank page. I love challenging the boys to draw their dream pet.  it is a great activity that uses their imagination and as it is a dream pet it doesn’t have to be real at all.  I recently

Design a Dream Pet | Creative Drawing Prompt for Kids Read More »