A Journal for
Becoming a Parent
Before there is a child, there is the child you were.
© Becoming a Parent
Overview
A reflective, guided journal for becoming a parent. It asks rather than instructs, and it names reflection over fixing. It gives the quiet looking the months ahead will ask of you anyway a place to happen, before the days fill.
What's inside
A short opening, then four movements: Looking Back, Looking at Each Other, Looking at Yourself, Looking Forward. Each two-page spread holds one reflection to read and a quiet page to write. The closing declines to wrap anything up. Read without writing, or skip what does not meet you.
Draws on the following research
Mary Main, adult attachment research and the intergenerational transmission of caregiving.
Philip and Carolyn Cowan, longitudinal study of the couple's transition to parenthood (the Becoming a Family Project).
The perinatal mental health literature, including the work behind the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and research on paternal and non-birthing partner depression.
Dana Raphael, the concept of matrescence (1970s), developed further by Aurelie Athan.
Kristin Neff, self-compassion research.
Dan McAdams, narrative identity.
The acceptance and commitment tradition, on values as directions rather than goals.