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.

Creative Kids Dessert Buffet Ideas for a Fun-Filled Party

Planning a party for kids can be a delightful adventure, and one of the most exciting parts is creating a dessert buffet that will have their eyes lighting up with joy. Imagine a colorful spread filled with sweet treats, each one more fun and delicious than the last. A kids’ dessert buffet is more than

Creative Kids Dessert Buffet Ideas for a Fun-Filled Party Read More »

My Aunty Christine’s Yorkshire Parkin Recipe

There are some recipes that just smell like home, and for us, Yorkshire Parkin is one of them. This rich, sticky ginger cake is a traditional treat in Northern England, especially around Bonfire Night in November. Made with oatmeal, golden syrup, and black treacle, it’s not just another gingerbread—it has a distinctive chewy texture that

My Aunty Christine’s Yorkshire Parkin Recipe Read More »

The Easiest Basic Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

ometimes you just need a tried and tested biscuit recipe, you know the one that will turn out time after time and is simple and delicious. That is where this basic chocolate chip cookie recipe comes into its own. It is my Mum’s recipe and one I have been using for years and years and never fails.

The Easiest Basic Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe Read More »