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.

This Szechuan Beef recipe is a real crowd-pleaser and so simple to make. It is a great fakeaway for all the family.

Szechuan Beef Recipe – Cooking with Kids: Easy & Fun

13 Comments / activities for children, Cooking, Fakeaways, Mains, receipe / By

This Szechuan Beef recipe is a real crowd-pleaser.  We first had this at my sister in laws (she is an amazing cook), so we pinched the recipe off her and it is a great weekend fakeaway, which is much loved by my boys.   I am delighted to bring you this recipe in conjunction with Simply

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Bleeding Tissue Paper Rain Art for Earth Day. This fab process art is great for getting kids crafting outside. Beautiful art made by kids using the bleeding tissue paper technique.

Bleeding Tissue Paper Rain Art for Earth Day

14 Comments / Age 2-5, Age 5-7, art, childrens craft, crafts, Earth Day, Process Art, Teen, Tween / By

This Earth Day craft is a great rainy day activity or just get the watering can out. It seems to have done nothing but rain for months and months here in North Yorkshire and I decided to embrace the weather and produce this process art bleeding tissue paper rain art for Earth Day.  

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My Spring Resolutions: Reducing Screen Time for the Whole Family

14 Comments / activities for children, parenting / By

I have been challenged by The Institute of Inertia in partnership with Comparethemarket.com as part of my work with them, to share my Spring resolutions.  Did you know that Spring is the ideal time to set goals and resolutions?  Spring is the point of new beginnings, the clocks going forward bringing lighter nights, life is awakening and the days are

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Slow Cooker Jacket Potatoes – Easy and Delicious Recipe

2 Comments / cooking with children, Mains, receipe, Slow cooker / By

One of the things I am passionate about is eating with my family.  I have fond memories of eating around the table when I was growing up and so does the husbeast.  Up until recently we have managed to eat together pretty much each night, but what with after school clubs, scouts, football and youth

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