Dam Parenting

Conflict isn't the enemy in your relationship—it’s how you handle it that counts. In this timely episode of Dam Parenting , Eva and Maren sit down with relationship expert Dr. Naomi to take a warm, honest, and direct look at conflict resolution during stressful seasons. We move beyond the "blame game" to explore how our individual attachment styles and physiological responses drive our arguments....

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses addiction and recovery. In this raw and deeply moving episode of Dam Parenting , we sit down with Maria (known as MamaMaria), a psychologist and Aware Parenting Coach, to discuss the intersection of sobriety and motherhood. Maria shares her candid journey of breaking generational cycles of addiction while raising her own family in the Netherlands. We take a...

The holidays are marketed as "magical," but for most parents, they can feel like a marathon of mental load and unrealistic expectations. In this festive edition of the DamGoode Bookclub , Maren and Eva are joined by Elizabeth Goode to discuss the hilariously relatable Why Mummy Drinks at Christmas by Gill Sims. We take a warm, honest, and direct look at the pressures of gift-giving, the...

We’re told that relationships are about teamwork, but the reality of parenting—especially without a local "village"—often feels like a constant negotiation of whose needs come first. In this episode of Dam Parenting , Eva and Maren sit down with resident psychologist Dr. Naomi Gibson to take a warm, honest, and direct look at the art of true compromise. We explore why real compromise isn't about "...

Why do we stay awake when we are absolutely exhausted? In this episode of DAMChats , Eva and Maren take a warm, honest, and direct look at the phenomenon of Revenge Bedtime Procrastination. Eva shares a vulnerable breakthrough from a recent therapy session about the overwhelming "nightly reset"—the endless cycle of folding laundry, clearing toys, and tackling dishes that eats into our re...

Are we creating memories, or are we just checking boxes? In this episode of DAMChats , Eva and Maren take a warm, honest, and direct look at the "more is more" culture of modern parenting. We dive into the exhaustion of the endless to-do list—from the pressure of perfect birthday parties to the weekend dash between trampoline parks and dance classes. We unpack how social media fuels comp...

At age four, children begin the lifelong habit of comparing themselves to others. As parents, how do we ensure they see challenges as opportunities rather than failures? In this episode of Dam Parenting , we’re joined by Faye from Kerr Psychology to take a warm, honest, and direct look at building resilience and a growth mindset. We dive into why effort-based praise is more powerful than labeling...

Are you tired of the morning rush and the pressure to always "do more"? In this grounding episode of Dam Parenting , we sit down with world-renowned Montessori educator and author Simone Davies to discuss the transformative power of slowing down. We take a warm, honest, and direct look at how to stop rushing and start trusting your child’s natural pace. Simone explains that Montessori isn't about...

It is a parenting staple found on almost every expat’s bookshelf, but does How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk actually work in the chaos of 2026? In this episode of the DamGoode Bookclub, Eva, Maren, and Elizabeth take a warm, honest, and direct look at the communication strategies made famous by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish. We break down the book’s core pillars—like...

🎉 Happy 1-Year Anniversary to Dam Parenting! 🎉 What started as a shared need for clarity amidst the "beautiful chaos" of the Netherlands has grown into a trusted resource for international families. In this special episode, Eva and Maren sit down with Gemma from MamaSocial to look back on the journey of building a village from scratch. We revisit the milestones that defined our first year—from n...

How can we help children with ADHD thrive in a classroom setting without losing their spark? In this episode of Dam Parenting , Eva and Maren sit down with Learning Diversity Specialist Kate to take a warm, honest, and direct look at ADHD within the school system. From executive functioning struggles to the sensory overload of a busy playground, Kate shares concrete strategies to bridge the gap be...

Let’s be honest: surviving a Dutch winter with a toddler requires a solid list of escape routes. In this episode of Dam Parenting , we share a community-curated guide to Amsterdam’s coziest corners for families. We move beyond the standard tourist spots to highlight local favorites where you can actually enjoy a warm coffee while your children are safely entertained. From the structured play at Cl...

What happens when you and your partner stop parenting against each other and start parenting with each other? In this essential episode of Dam Parenting , Eva and Maren sit down with psychologist Dr. Naomi Gibson to explore the art of the "parenting team." Being a couple and being co-parents are two different skills, and often, the pressure of raising kids in a foreign country can drive a wedge be...

Is it a language barrier, or is it ADHD? In this powerful episode of Dam Parenting , Eva and Maren sit down with Anne to take a warm, honest, and direct look at her family’s journey from denial to diagnosis. For many international parents, ADHD symptoms are often dismissed as "adjustment issues," leaving families struggling in silence. Anne shares the emotional reality of moving past the "yes, but...

How do you stay present when the monotony of parenting feels physically painful to your brain? In this episode of Dam Parenting , Eva and Maren sit down with Emma, an ADHD Potential Coach, to take a warm, honest, and direct look at the neurodivergent experience of motherhood. From the quiet frustration of rocking a non-verbal baby to the chaos of toddler tantrums, we explore why the "hard parts" o...

ADHD is one of the most misunderstood labels in modern parenting, often clouded by myths that undermine the real, scientific reality of the condition. In this episode of Dam Parenting , Eva and Maren take a warm, honest, and direct look at the ADHD journey specifically within the Dutch healthcare system. Joined by researcher Marlies Visser , we explore the persistent stigma surrounding the diagnos...

The transition to motherhood is as profound as adolescence, yet the term "Matrescence" is still missing from many mainstream parenting conversations. To wrap up our month-long deep dive, Eva and Maren take a warm, honest, and direct look at what they’ve learned from experts like Dr. Naomi Gibson and Ilena Standring. This episode is a raw reflection on the emotional and physical upheaval of becomin...

Matrescence is the developmental transition into motherhood—much like adolescence, it is a period of massive hormonal and psychological upheaval. In this episode of Dam Parenting , Eva and Maren sit down with psychologist Dr. Naomi Gibson to take a warm, honest, and direct look at the "birth" of a mother. We move past the surface-level talk of baby gear and sleep schedules to explore the deep iden...

Matrescence changes everything—including how we see the skin we live in. Following our deep dive into body image with Ilena Standring, this episode offers a quiet, intentional space to process your own journey. We move beyond "bouncing back" and focus on a loving journaling exercise designed to help you appreciate your body’s resilience, its role in your self-care, and its evolving relat...

Your body didn't just change; it underwent a profound transformation to bring life into the world. In this episode of Dam Parenting , Ilena Standring returns to join Maren for a warm, honest, and direct conversation about body image during Matrescence. We move beyond the "bounce back" myths to explore the real mental and emotional impact of seeing yourself differently after pregnancy. We unpack th...

What happens when the expert becomes the student? In this episode, seasoned postpartum doula Harriet returns for a warm, honest, and direct 6-month check-in on her own journey through matrescence. After years of supporting Amsterdam families through the "Fourth Trimester," Harriet shares what it’s actually like to live through the identity shift, the emotional highs and lows, and the self-discover...

Why does becoming a mother feel like losing yourself and finding a stranger at the same time? In this episode of the DamGoode Bookclub, Elizabeth, Maren, and Eva take a warm, honest, and direct look at Matrescence by Lucy Jones. We explore why this term—representing the profound physical, emotional, and neurological transformation into motherhood—is only just gaining the recognition it deserves in...

Moving to a new country is a massive logistical feat, but it’s the emotional transition that often takes the longest to settle. In this episode of Dam Parenting , Eva and Maren are joined by relocation counselor and coach Erin from @TodayIWasAsked to take a warm, honest, and direct look at the "hidden" side of moving. Whether you’ve just arrived in the Netherlands or have been here for years and a...

Entering the Dutch school system is a major milestone, but for multilingual families, it often sparks concerns about language "attrition" at home. In this fan-favorite revisit, Eva and Maren sit down with Eowyn, the expert behind On Raising Bilingual Children , to take a warm, honest, and direct look at navigating bilingualism during the school years. Eowyn shares practical strategies for maintain...

As the summer ends and the school year approaches, the "back-to-school" nerves aren’t reserved just for the children. In this episode of Dam Parenting , Eva and Maren are joined by resident psychologist Dr. Naomi Gibson to take a warm, honest, and direct look at the emotional whirlwind parents face during school transitions. Surprisingly, how we support our children often has less to do with their...