Mumsnet is a parenting website. I have been using it for 8 years now, and there have been times in my life when it has been a godsend.

Mumsnet has many facets. Primarily I use it for the talk forums, where I can join in on threads which are as wide ranging as tonight's TV schedule to 'should I be wearing lavender coloured jeans this spring?'. The talk boards not only cover light hearted topics such as Style and Beauty, Gardening, eBay and Property/DIY, but also some of the more challenging aspects of parenting, for example Special Needs, Miscarriage and Bereavement. There is also the ever popular 'Am I Being Unreasonable?' section where posters can ask for Mumsnetters views on whether they are being reasonable or not. Be careful, you need a very thick skin to post here, as Mumsnetters will tell it how it is!

In addition to the Talk boards there is a wealth of information on Conception, Pregnancy, Childbirth and Babies, so if you're a first time parent you need look no further for information. Mumsnet also has regular webchats wiyh politicians, authors, parenting gurus and influential figures, so it is always in line with the zeigeist.

If you are frugal like me, then there are plenty of product tests and competitions to get involved with. Mumsnet also offers discounts or free postage offers with their key partners e.g. The White Company, Mint Velvet and John Lewis. There is no membership fee to access Mumsnet, so anyone visiting the site can take advantage of these offers.

There is also a wonderful community spirit on Mumsnet. Every year Mumsnet runs a Christmas Appeal, where Mumsnetters who wish to donate a present are matched to a Mumsnetter who has been nominated as a recipient as they have had a tough year. It is a true testimony to 'random acts of kindness' and gives me a warm glow everytime I think of it.

Mumsnet is definitely not for the faint hearted though. Mumsnetters, whilst generally kind, will call a spade a shovel. There are no moderators, which can make the talk boards quite 'feisty', however Mumsnet HQ will step in if they suspect that a poster is not adhering to the Mumsnet philosophy.

The format of the website is quite plain, and Mumsnetters have strongly resisted the introduction of tickers. If you like tickers or being able to have a photo alongside your user ID,then its probably not the site for you.

I can't recommend Mumsnet enough. The only downside is that it can be a very addictive site - remember to allow time for real life!