Since about 2001 or 2002, when it was Mamasource and it was local to your area only. It was more for questions about looking for a good babysitter or asking about a local preschool. In fact, I believe my first question was asking if anyone's husband was good at installing ceiling fans and could I hire him for a couple of hours to do mine (I got 5 immediate responses and a neighbor sent her hubby over who installed it for 20 bucks).
I have left and come back a few times, I got hacked and had to change my info once, I disagreed very strongly with admin/owners about a very scary thing a mom posted a few years ago and took a break for awhile, too. (in that instance, I ended up working with the police and the children were removed from the home - it was pretty bad). Life gets in the way and sometimes I just don't have time to either post a question or answer other folks. Once in awhile, you will see a few members have some pretty toxic behaviors and gang up on moms - I will sometimes take a break and it seems like those folks never last long and leave to bother some other group.
Sometimes I find a great answer/idea - sometimes not. Sometimes it helps to see others are having real issues, just like I do. I feel like sometimes I can offer good advice, and other times I'm sure my advice stinks.
It has taken very interesting turns over the last nearly 20 years I have been on it. Not always for the better.