Dam Parenting

January 6th marks Nollaig na mBan , or Women’s Christmas—an Irish tradition dedicated to honoring the unseen work women do and reclaiming space for rest after the holiday chaos. In this warm, honest, and direct episode, Eva explores why the "New Year, New You" narrative is often a trap for parents already carrying a heavy mental load. Instead of pushing for productivity and fresh starts,...

Welcome to Dam Parenting in 2026. Here's a brief overview of who we are, what we do and what you can expect from us.

In this raw and unpolished finale to our holiday series, Eva delivers a warm, honest, and direct "thank you" to the community that has made 2025 such an incredible year for Dam Parenting . Recorded amidst the post-holiday whirlwind—unpacked suitcases, bedtime battles, and the sudden pop of Dutch fireworks—this episode is a real-time reflection of the beautiful, messy reality of parenting...

While the world focuses on festive magic, many parents are quietly bracing for the impact of broken routines and big family expectations. In this warm, honest, and direct episode, Eva is joined by child psychologist Faye to look at what is actually happening in a child’s brain when the holidays become "too much." We move past the guilt of holiday stress to explore the science of overstim...

How do children really find their voice in multiple languages? In this warm, honest, and direct episode, Eva sits down with resident linguist Mimi from Growing Up Multilingual to explore the profound link between play and speech. For international parents, the pressure to "teach" a heritage language can be overwhelming, but Mimi explains why slowing down is actually the most effective st...

The Dutch festive season is a whirlwind of light festivals, Christmas markets, and cozy museum outings—but knowing where to go can be overwhelming for international parents. In this episode, Eva is joined by Samira from AmsterdamKids to talk through the best ways to make the most of winter in the Netherlands. While the specific dates from this broadcast have passed, the strategies for finding the...

Between the sugar rushes and the cultural juggling of the Dutch festive season, December often leads to parental burnout. In this warm, honest, and direct episode, Eva offers a "parent-to-parent reset." We’re shifting the focus away from the pressure to "buy all the things" and toward the grounding practice of giving back. Eva introduces the concept of the Reverse Advent Calend...

Bringing home a second baby is one of the most beautiful—and logistically challenging—milestones a family can face. In this highly requested episode, child psychologist Faye Poole from Kerr Psychology joins us to take a warm, honest, and direct look at the transition from one child to two. We move past the "perfect" nursery prep and focus on what really matters: your first-born’s emotion...

Is the One Parent, One Language (OPOL) method a magic formula for bilingual success, or is it just another source of parenting guilt? In this episode of Dam Parenting , Eva sits down with linguist and multilingual mother Mimi from Growing Up Multilingual to take a warm, honest, and direct look at this century-old strategy. We unpack where OPOL came from, why it’s so widely recommended, and—most im...

Living abroad often forces families into a "survivalist" independence that can inadvertently create distance between partners. In this episode of Dam Parenting , Eva sits down with Angela from the Expat Parenting Collective to take a warm, honest, and direct look at the fine line between "I've got this" and "we've got this." Without a traditional support netwo...

Leaving a country isn’t just a logistical checklist; it’s a profound emotional journey. In this special episode of Dam Parenting , Eva and Maren sit down with Erin, who recently made the heartfelt decision to leave the Netherlands and move her family closer to their extended support network. We take a warm, honest, and direct look at the courage it takes to recognize what your family and your own...

Do you ever close Instagram feeling like you’re failing, even though your kids are happy and fed? In this episode of Dam Parenting , resident psychologist Dr. Faye Poole joins Eva to take a warm, honest, and direct look at how social media fuels the "perfect parenting" myth. We explore the psychological link between endless scrolling and the decline of parental confidence, uncovering why we compar...

What happens when two parents share a child, but don't share the same vision for their multilingual future? In this episode of Dam Parenting , Eva is joined by Mimi from Growing up Multilingual⁠ to take a warm, honest, and direct look at the "hidden" side of bilingual parenting: parental alignment. We explore why even the most detailed language strategy will fail if parents are pulli...

Halloween is just around the corner — and the Netherlands is getting spook-tacular ! This week, Samira from Amsterdam Kids joins us to share her top picks for family-friendly Halloween fun — from pumpkin patches to science parties and everything in between. Whether your kids are tiny pumpkins or full-on thrill seekers, we’ve got something for everyone: Robbeburg — little-kid-approved Halloween cra...

The Herfstvakantie may be over, but the challenge of keeping kids entertained in the Dutch weather is a year-round reality. In this episode, Eva and Samira from AmsterdamKids look back at their ultimate survival guide for the autumn break. While the specific holiday dates have passed, the "rainy-day heroes" mentioned—like the Eye Film Museum , CineKid , and Sprookjeswonderland —remain to...

Healthcare in the Netherlands shouldn't feel like a barrier to your well-being. In this episode of Dam Parenting , we spotlight the Healthy Here event taking place on November 1st in Amstelveen. This is a rare, free opportunity for international parents to bypass the standard referral system and speak directly with Dutch health professionals in plain English. We take a warm, honest, and direct...

Relationships aren't easy, but they are especially complex when you’re juggling cultural differences, career shifts, and parenting far from home. In this episode of Dam Parenting , Eva is joined by Angela from the Expat Parenting Collective to take a warm, honest, and direct look at how clear communication protects our most important bonds. We move past the surface level to discuss why "s...

Looking for ways to spark your child's curiosity in Amsterdam? In this episode, we celebrate our very first collaboration with The Science Camp , spotlighting their brand-new learning space on Kinkerstraat in Amsterdam West. We take a warm, honest, and direct look at how hands-on science—from "Crazy Chemistry" to "Astronomy Adventures"—helps kids develop creativity and conf...

Happy International Podcast Day! In this special celebratory episode, Eva reflects on the incredible journey of Dam Parenting —from a small idea to a thriving resource with over 150 episodes and 20,000+ downloads. This milestone is about more than just numbers; it’s about the international community we’ve built together here in the Netherlands. We take a warm, honest, and direct look back at the t...

It takes a village to raise a child, but who is supporting the parents? In this episode, Eva sits down with Maria from @MamaMariacoach , the visionary behind the BBABBY Fair . While this specific event has concluded, the conversation highlights a vital shift in the parenting world: moving away from "stuff" and toward professional, human-centered support. From pregnancy and nutrition to N...

What does it take for a community space to thrive for half a century? In this special episode, Eva takes us inside Robbeburg , a family-founded community center in Amsterdam Zuid that has served as a vital lifeline for international parents since the 1970s. We’re joined by volunteer Kelli to take a warm, honest, and direct look at the power of community-led childcare and the essential role these s...

Welcoming a baby in a new country is a monumental transition that often requires more than just medical care—it requires a village. In this episode of Dam Parenting , Eva sits down with Ellen and her doula, ⁠ Ilena Standring ⁠ , to take a warm, honest, and direct look at giving birth within the Dutch maternity system. Ellen shares her personal journey from pregnancy preparations to postpartum refl...

Raising kids with multiple languages is a beautiful goal, but how do we move from constant pressure to purposeful choice? In this episode of Dam Parenting , Eva is joined by Mimi from Growing Multilingual for a warm, honest, and direct exploration of the emotional side of language. We dive deep into why your personal "why" is the most important part of your language plan and how to stay...

There is a unique kind of vulnerability that comes with watching your child enter an operating room. In this deeply personal episode, Eva shares her family’s journey through her daughter’s adenoid, tonsil, and grommet surgery. We move beyond the clinical details to offer a warm, honest, and direct look at the emotional and practical side of pediatric procedures in the Netherlands. From the "must-p...

What does it actually feel like to land in a new country and start a new life with a young child? In this episode, Eva sits down with Alexa Starks , who moved to the Netherlands just four months ago. We take a warm, honest, and direct look at the "immigrant identity crisis" that often hits international parents. Alexa shares her raw first impressions—from the practical chaos of navigatin...