Lessons From A Default Parent

What nobody tells you about parenthood, from one of the ‘silent partners’ behind the Parenting Hell podcast. School-run coordinator, party planner, clubsorganiser, laundry sorter… and maybe even a ‘real’ job on top! Sound exhaustingly familiar? From assumptions surrounding who is going to stay at home with the kids to the never-ending list of ‘school’ admin, being ‘the default parent’ rears its head in a plethora of ways.

This book is for all the defaults out there – bored out of their eyeballs or so overwhelmed they could scream expletives into the wind for a solid hour – to know their invisible labour is seen and valued. With heartfelt and hilarious advice, Lou Beckett provides much-needed comfort and community for the one who is depended on the most (and often feels appreciated the least), and maybe – just maybe – how we can begin to rebalance the parenting scales and muddle through a little better, together.

Ideal for readers who...

• feel like the default parent and want reassurance that the invisible labour is real and recognised
• are juggling school admin, logistics, and household management alongside work (paid or unpaid)
• need humour, solidarity and practical comfort rather than perfect-parent pressure
• want language and perspective to talk about fairness, roles and emotional load at home
• are fans of Parenting Hell and enjoy heartfelt, funny takes on the messy reality of family life