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Lessons from a Default Parent

Surviving the Front Line of Family Life (Without Losing Your Sh*t)

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Lessons from a Default Parent

By: Lou Beckett
Narrated by: Rob Beckett, Lou Beckett
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About this listen

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 audiobook 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.

With exclusive audio content with her other half, Rob Beckett!

Lou Beckett is a mother of two, ex-secondary school teacher, and wife to Rob Beckett. The (mostly) silent participant of the incredibly successful Parenting Hell podcast (spoken about, not to, except for the occasional 'right to reply' episodes), she can speak about the similarly ‘silent’ issues: default parenting, emotional labour, and managing the mental load of parenthood. Her popular blog post, A Very Long Whinge, prompted many ‘me too’ moments from parents.

© 2025 Lou Beckett © 2025 DK Audio

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As a mum of two girls I feel so seen! Lou manages to say it exactly like it is, in a hilarious and articulate way, Absolutely brilliant. Lou, I think you have found your thing after teaching… please write more!

Fantastic!

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Loved listening to this! So honest & real! Think it’ll help both default & non default parents! Highly recommend!

Fab book

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This is the first review I’ve ever left on a book, and I read a lot. But this is also the first time I’ve ever felt fully understood, validated, and relieved by words written by someone I’ve never met. As someone who valued their career, was forced into the default role through my husband’s career taking off, this resonated deeply. So yes, thank you, so much ❤️

Just thank you.

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This is a true breath of fresh air. After falling pregnant whilst travelling and only knowing my boyfriend a few months this was exactly what I needed to read to feel like a sane human being. I went into motherhood very naively and uncertain. To now be one year in with my beautiful baby boy this advice giving book has made me feel a certain wonderful way of being heard. Thank you Lou xxx

So needed.. my inside thoughts are heard

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I am in my late, late sixties and had my daughter when I was 38yrs old. Bought her up as a single mom from the age of 18-months. She went on to university and then on to a Masters in Design and Architecture. And, now I want my daughter to read this book before she has children. I am on Chapter 2 and so in awe of how this book resonates, with the dynamics of having children. In fact every woman should read or listen to this narrative and every man, to enable themselves to understand the responsibility of wanting and having children. Lou, so fabulously voiced 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

A book every woman should read 🥂

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