Lessons from a Default Parent available to preorder

Published by DK RED, and out in February 2026 in hardback, eBook and audiobook formats – available for pre-order here.

‘More demanding than hell, this is parenting purgatory for authentic women who’ve put their lives on hold to be mummy’ – Katherine Ryan

‘A brilliant, comforting, and funny read for any default parent’ – Ellie Taylor

‘A fun and funny polemic on something deadly serious’ – Sara Pascoe

What nobody tells you about parenthood, from one of the ‘silent partners’ behind the Parenting Hell podcast.

School-run coordinator, party planner, clubs organiser, 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.