Dam Parenting

What if your child’s "difficult behavior" is actually a sensory SOS? In this episode of Dam Parenting , Eva sits down with resident child psychologist Faye from Kerr Psychology to take a warm, honest, and direct look at the sensory systems that govern our children’s worlds. We go beyond sight and sound to explain proprioception and vestibular input —the hidden systems that help kids feel grounded,...

Does your child resist speaking your native language? The solution might be simpler than you think. In this episode of Dam Parenting , Eva sits down with Mimi from Growing Up Multilingual to explore a heartwarming breakthrough: how a simple afternoon of coloring led to a spontaneous surge in Bulgarian. We take a warm, honest, and direct look at why play is the most powerful "language lab&quot...

The Dutch education system is famous for its variety, but for international parents, that variety can feel like a complex puzzle. In this "Time Vault" episode, Eva and Maren sit down with Isabel Cruz from Consulting Kaleidoscope to take a warm, honest, and direct look at school choices in the Netherlands. We break down the different educational philosophies—like Montessori and Waldorf—an...

August 12th is The United Nations' International Youth Day which recognises efforts of the world's youth in enhancing global society. And I thought who better than to do a re-listen to then Project Fearless . What an incredible Stichting for youth right here in the Netherlands.

Today’s episode is a little different. There are no guest experts, no structured interviews, and no "how-to" guides for navigating life in the Netherlands. Instead, it’s just a warm, honest, and direct note from me to you. We spend so much time as international parents acting as the planners, the problem-solvers, and the "villages" for our own families that we often overlook ou...

In this episode of Dam Parenting , we’re giving you a seat in a "free therapy" session with our resident child psychologist, Faye from Kerr Psychology . We take a warm, honest, and direct look at two of the most common hurdles for international parents: physical outbursts and the dreaded morning chaos. First, we tackle the "big feelings" that manifest physically—hitting, pushin...

If your child is a "passive bilingual"—understanding your home language but refusing to speak it—you aren't failing. In this episode of Dam Parenting , Eva welcomes back Mimi to take a warm, honest, and direct look at the psychology of language choice. Moving beyond the "just add more exposure" trope, we dive into the research of Susanne Döpke and Piaget to explain why chil...

Where to go, what to do with Samira from AmsterdamKids.com Beaches Zandvoort aan Zee Bloemendaal aan Zee Castricum aan Zee Texel Island Zeeland Scheveningen Amusement Parks Efteling  Oud Valkeveen Duinrell and Tiki Pool Toverland Sprookjeswonderland Easy Outdoor Escapes from Amsterdam Het Twiske *Always check water safety on Waterkwaliteit.net before swimming. Outdoor Pools - Flevoparkbad and Mira...

aising a child far from home brings a unique set of emotional and cultural challenges that many "locals" simply don't see. 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 the reality of parenting abroad. We dive into a powerful listener story from a new mother in the Netherlands navigating the g...

"Baby brain" is one of the most persistent myths in parenting — the idea that pregnancy and new motherhood make you forgetful, scattered, less capable. Neuroscientist Dr. Elke De Witte has spent her career proving it wrong. I sit down with Dr. Elke, author of De Moederbreinmythe (The Motherbrain Myth), for what became one of the most genuinely surprising conversations we've had on Da...

If you’ve ever felt like the "only one" hesitant to give your nine-year-old a smartphone, this episode is your community. We take a warm, honest, and direct look at the Opgroeien Smartphonevrij (Growing Up Smartphone-Free) movement—a grassroots initiative by Dutch parents to shift the digital norm. Drawing on research from experts like Jean Twenge, we discuss the profound impact of smart...

Children are like sponges; they don't just hear what we say, they absorb how we feel. In this episode of Dam Parenting , we welcome back child psychologist Dr. Faye Pool for a warm, honest, and direct conversation about the science of co-regulation. We dive into the "why" behind parental stress, exploring how our own nervous systems impact our children’s developing brains and why man...

Did you know that 1 in 4 migrant mothers experience symptoms of depression during or after pregnancy? In this essential episode, Dam Parenting explores the MiMoment Project , a research initiative by the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and the WHO. We take a warm, honest, and direct look at the unique mental health barriers faced by women who have moved to the Netherlands and are now navigating pregn...

Are you constantly asking yourself, "Am I doing enough?" or worrying that your child is "falling behind" in one of their languages? In this month’s multilingual parenting series, we’re joined by the compassionate Mimi from Growing Up Multilingual to address the unspoken emotional load of raising kids with multiple languages. We take a warm, honest, and direct look at the guilt,...

Fatherhood is often shadowed by the pressure to "stay strong," but the statistics tell a different story: 1 in 6 fathers in the Netherlands report burnout symptoms, and many struggle with postpartum depression in silence. In honor of Men’s Mental Health Week, Dam Parenting hosts a vital, unfiltered conversation about the emotional realities of being a dad. We are joined by two fathers fr...

Listener Note: This episode explores a specific, often traditional perspective on parenting that may trigger feelings of "mom guilt." Please listen with care and take only what serves you. In this episode of Dam Parenting , we dive into the deep—and sometimes polarizing—waters of attachment theory with licensed clinical social worker and author Erica Komisar. With over 30 years of experience, Eric...

In honor of LGBTQ+ Families Day, Dam Parenting welcomes Jillian to take a warm, honest, and direct look at what it’s really like to raise a child in the Netherlands when your family doesn’t fit the "traditional" mold. Jillian shares her journey of moving here as part of a same-sex couple, the research that led them to the Netherlands, and the unexpected gaps in support they encountered u...

Why do small children have such massive reactions to seemingly tiny problems? In this kickoff to our new monthly series, child psychologist Dr. Faye Poole from Kerr Psychology⁠ takes a warm, honest, and direct look at the neuroscience of "big emotions." We dive into the physical reality of the developing brain, exploring how the amygdala and prefrontal cortex play tug-of-war during a mel...

Grief doesn’t follow a government calendar, and the "24-week rule" for pregnancy loss leave is finally being challenged. In this powerful episode, Eva joins Fidessa to discuss the movement for national grievance leave for all parents experiencing pregnancy loss. We share an incredible update: thanks to this petition, cities like Amsterdam and Utrecht have already stepped up to accept the...

Do you worry that your child is falling behind or that you aren't providing "enough" language exposure? You aren't alone. In this first episode of our monthly series with Mimi from Growing Up Multilingual , we take a warm, honest, and direct look at the invisible stress and self-doubt that many international parents carry. We dive into why your emotional well-being is actually a...

Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) affects over 3% of pregnancies in the Netherlands, yet it remains one of the most misunderstood complications of pregnancy. In this vital episode of Dam Parenting , Eva sits down with Jessica Sinay from Stichting ZEHG to take a warm, honest, and direct look at the reality of HG. Moving beyond the "morning sickness" myth, we discuss the relentless physical toll...

What happens when the "new baby" check-ins stop, but you still feel like you’re finding your footing? In this season premiere of Dam Parenting , Eva reunites with early guest Harriet for an honest, 14-month postpartum check-in. We move past the newborn haze to take a warm and direct look at the long-term emotional recovery and identity shifts that happen well after the first year. Togeth...

It’s finally here. To kick off Season 2 of Dam Parenting , Eva returns for a warm, honest, and direct solo episode to mark Maternal Mental Health Month. This month is the very foundation of this podcast—born from the need to support mothers navigating the unique emotional hurdles of raising children in a foreign country. After a successful first season exploring the "shadow topics" of pa...

I have some news: Dam Parenting isn't going anywhere! In this quick 2025 update, Eva takes a warm, honest, and direct moment to share why the podcast is continuing and what the future looks like for our international community in the Netherlands. While we are taking a brief, intentional pause to coordinate fresh guest voices and new episodes, the mission remains the same: creating a space for...

We made it! With over 100 episodes now in the books, Eva and Maren take a warm, honest, and direct look back at the highlights of 2024. From deep dives into relationship dynamics and neuroscience to the raw vulnerability of birth stories and matrescence, it has been a transformative year for the Dam Parenting community. In this special season finale, we revisit the moments that resonated most and...