Parent Goals: The Millennial’s Guide to New Parent Preparedness

by Lindsay Garrett

Child welfare and adoption specialist Lindsay Garrett, LCSW, teaches Millennials considering having kids how to emotionally prepare for parenthood, determine their parenting style and values, and establish sustainable support. In your prime child-rearing years and mulling the question Am I ready to have a baby ? Millennials contemplating kids can now turn to Parent Goals , a guide to emotional preparedness for parenthood. Child welfare and adoption specialist Lindsay Garrett leverages her professional expertise and experience as a new parent to lead readers through the mental prep work needed before embarking on this important life choice. Parent Goals is the book to turn to before you make the decision to become a parent. Unlike other books on the topic that focus on pregnancy and kids’ life stages, Parent Goals outlines the most important—and least explained—aspects of having children, including emotional readiness, attachment theory, and determining your values as a parent. In addition to offering advice and guidance, Parent Goals is the first book to address the emergence of the co-parenting style popular with Millennials, which involves a more equitable division of labor than we have seen in previous generations. Garrett’s down-to-earth and sometimes cheeky writing style makes Parent Goals an accessible and engaging read for the Millennial generation.

Genres: Parenting

248 pages, Paperback

Published November 16, 2021

Reviews

[Megan Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warm, witty, practical wisdom on preparing for parenting. Bonus that it’s written by a former colleague who I admire greatly!

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just reviewed Parent Goals by Lindsay C.M. Garrett. #ParentGoals

A fairly new (and I am assuming) Millennial mother of very young children - and a social worker - giving advice to other millennials about the prospect of having children and co-parenting. While the author's intentions are good, the research is flawed. Nuclear families tend to not flourish without the extended family of grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, and the like being more LOVE and support than inconvenience and afterthoughts. Saying it's okay to use extended fami.y is just not okay. Grandparents don't willingly 'babysit', they instead prefer to visit with both parents and grandchildren. Being with a child in their home or yours for hours or weekends should never be considered babysitting, but visiting and much needed bonding time. If that's the only reason millennials see for having an extended family around is to do them favors and can't find time to fit them into your nuclear family's life in a more normal way, then this needs a reconstruct. Co-parenting is never idyllic and never the way its mapped out. It's hard.. Reflect back on this book when your kids are in their teens and see how much of this is sustainable for more than a couple of seasons. I received an advance copy of this book from the NetGalley in exchange for my review.

[Camille · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you or your partner are considering parenthood (and you enjoy quick wit and vulnerable anecdotes), PLEASE read this book! Lindsay (with whom you'll quickly find yourself feeling like BFF's, so yes I first-named her) presents a well-researched and comprehensive group of information to sort through. And the best part is that she makes it so easy to digest and work through (plus she's done the difficult research for the reader and presents it in a non-condescending way). There are summaries at the end of each chapter to review, and a list of reflective/journal/conversation questions for each chapter as well. You'll get real insight from the author, as well as a slew of other parents who have very recently walked the harrowing road of new parenthood. This book provides what I believe to be a really sound and applicable look at attachment in parenting and approach to discipline, which I found to be refreshing and helpful. You won't regret reading this, and if you use the book (TIP: she tells you how to use the book in the intro, super helpful) in preparing for diving into the parenting world I think you'll find yourself well-prepared and confident to embrace the growth to come.

[Alex Gangstead · Rating 5 out of 5]

In taking it upon herself to write the book she couldn’t find, Lindsay Garrett has successfully filled a long time gap in Parenting Prep books. She has created a What to Expect BEFORE You are Expecting guide. Drawing on her extensive experience in the world of adoption and her own personal experience of preparing to become a mother, Garrett tackles the stuff most people don't think about until after becoming pregnant.

Her vibrant personality shines through in a way that makes you feel like you are talking to a friend rather than reading a book. All of her advice is sound and well researched and is never prescriptive, as she often reminds the reader that every person and family is different and what works for one will not work for all.

If you or someone you know is considering becoming a parent go out and buy this book today!

[Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Wonderwell for the chance to read an early copy of this book!

While I enjoyed the content of this book, there was nothing that I hadn't already at least tangentially thought about, and I often found myself skimming the prose and interview quotes. It could be a good conversation starter for people who are brand new to the idea and don't know what they need to consider but many of these are things that my husband and I already had to discuss as part of our pre-marital preparation in the Catholic Church. One interesting thing about the book is that it's very inclusive and works to be relevant to couples of various gender combinations, and having children through various means (not surprising for an adoption counselor author!).