Dam Parenting

Dam Parenting Podcast
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Parenting in the Netherlands as an international family can feel overwhelming — but you don’t have to do it alone. DAM Parenting is a weekly podcast supporting international parents through pregnancy, birth, and parenthood in the Dutch system. With 165+ episodes, we explore everything from giving birth in a system you may not fully understand to raising third-culture kids in multilingual homes. Featuring real birth stories, expert insights, and honest conversations, this is your space for clarity, reassurance, and community. You are not alone.

  1. Matrescence: Why So Many Mothers Feel Like They’re Losing Themselves

    2 DAYS AGO

    Matrescence: Why So Many Mothers Feel Like They’re Losing Themselves

    This is a DAM Parenting archive episode recorded two years ago, brought back because the conversation around matrescence and identity in motherhood is still so relevant today. So many of us assume that once we’ve heard the term matrescence, the conversation is done. That everyone understands it. That we’ve already said enough. But the reality is that motherhood continues to reshape us in ways that are rarely spoken about openly. The emotional shifts. The identity changes. The quiet moments of wondering who we are now. These conversations can easily disappear beneath the daily demands of parenting, which is exactly why they need to be revisited again and again. This episode is a reminder that the transformation of becoming a mother isn’t a one-time conversation. It’s an ongoing experience many of us are still navigating. So if this topic resonated in Wednesday’s episode on matrescence, this follow-up from the archives is a powerful continuation of that conversation. Because sometimes the most important conversations in motherhood are the ones we need to keep bringing back into the light. In this episode, you’ll hear from Ilena Standring, a doula based in Amsterdam, whose work beautifully reflects the heart of matrescence — the profound emotional, psychological, and identity transformation that happens when we become mothers. Ilena doesn’t simply support women through pregnancy and birth; she holds space for the deeper transition into motherhood that continues long after a baby arrives. Her perspective is grounded in the belief that women deserve to understand what is happening to them during this powerful life shift. Through her work as a doula and guide in the motherhood journey, Ilena helps women recognise that matrescence is not something to struggle through alone, but a transformation they can learn to navigate, honour, and ultimately flourish within.

    1h 4m
  2. The Identity Shift in Motherhood: Understanding Matrescence

    5 DAYS AGO

    The Identity Shift in Motherhood: Understanding Matrescence

    What if motherhood isn’t just a new role — but a complete identity transition? In this powerful conversation with clinical psychologist Dr. Naomi Gibson, we explore matrescence — the developmental process a woman goes through when becoming a mother. Like adolescence, matrescence involves hormonal changes, brain rewiring, shifting values, and a reorganisation of identity. Yet 67% of mothers have never heard the word. In this episode we discuss: • What matrescence really means• Why many mothers feel lost after having a baby• Identity shifts in expat motherhood• Self-esteem and confidence after children• Why defining yourself only as “mother” can be harmful• How to navigate the psychological transition into parenthood If you’ve ever wondered:“Who am I now?”“Why don’t I feel like myself?”“Is this normal?” This episode is for you. Listen now and join the conversation redefining motherhood in the Netherlands and beyond.

    51 min
  3. Parenting a Child with a Rare Disease: Finding Community, Dignity, and Support

    28 FEB

    Parenting a Child with a Rare Disease: Finding Community, Dignity, and Support

    Parenthood doesn’t always unfold the way we imagine. In this Rare Disease Day special, Sarah shares her family’s lived experience of parenting a child with a rare disease — from diagnosis and grief to resilience and connection. This conversation explores how labels can become tools for finding support, not reasons for hiding, and how A Different Story was created as a community for parents in the Netherlands to be seen, heard, and held. This episode may feel heavy for some — and deeply affirming for others. It is shared with care, dignity, and the belief that no one should navigate this journey alone.

    23 min
  4. Montessori at Home in the Netherlands with Simone Davies

    25 FEB

    Montessori at Home in the Netherlands with Simone Davies

    Montessori is not a trend in the Netherlands — it’s part of the educational fabric. When Maria Montessori made the Netherlands her home, her work was already flourishing here, with over 200 Montessori schools established by the mid-1930s. Today, Montessori education remains more accessible in the Netherlands than in most countries worldwide. In this special Montessori Education Week replay — and one of our top 10 most downloaded episodes — I sit down with Simone Davies, author of The Montessori Baby, The Montessori Toddler, and The Montessori Child, and founder of Jacaranda Tree Montessori in Amsterdam. We explore: What Montessori really means beyond aesthetics How to create a home environment where everything is accessible and everyone feels welcome Guiding children from dependence → collaboration → independence How observation transforms behaviour challenges into connection Sparking intrinsic motivation without pressure or control Whether you are navigating the Dutch school system or simply curious about bringing Montessori principles into your home, this episode offers grounded, practical insight for parents raising children in the Netherlands. This conversation continues to shape thousands of homes around the world — and remains one of the most powerful starting points for understanding Montessori in everyday life. Links Jacaranda Tree MontessoriMontessori NotebookSimone's Books

    46 min
  5. Phone Free February: Growing Up Smartphone-Free in the Netherlands

    21 FEB

    Phone Free February: Growing Up Smartphone-Free in the Netherlands

    My child is five and last week she asked me to put mine away. That moment changed how I think about smartphones and childhood. This episode is part of Phone Free February — a global campaign encouraging families to reduce or delay smartphone use. But here in the Netherlands, something even bigger is happening. The grassroots movement Smartphonevrij Opgroeien (Growing Up Smartphone-Free - originally from the UK) began with Dutch parents who saw what the UK were doing and felt early smartphone access didn’t sit right. Today, more families are choosing to delay smartphones until group 8 (around age 12), and there is growing national debate about banning smartphones in schools all day. Across Europe, experts are recommending waiting until 15 for social media access. GPs and youth care workers are reporting increases in sleep disruption, anxiety, low self-esteem, and concentration challenges linked to smartphone use in children. This episode brings the Dutch movement into English — because if your child is growing up in the Netherlands, this affects you too. Inside this episode:• What Smartphonevrij Opgroeien actually means• Why parents are signing up — even with babies and toddlers• What the research says about early smartphone use• How to join the WhatsApp groups (including English-speaking parents)• How to delay without isolating your child This isn’t anti-technology. It’s pro-childhood. And it starts long before your child asks for their first phone. Links to support you: Want to join the Whatsapp group in your area? ⁠CLICK HERE⁠ Want to join the Whatsapp group for English speakers: ⁠CLICK HERE⁠ - (in select jouw regio - scroll to bottom for ENGLISH) If you want to check out your own school (or chosen school) ⁠CLICK HERE⁠ on your region Click on the image of a school - Bekijk hoeveel ouders.... From there it will show you the number of students and schools, with the list of cities underneath. Click into the city and you will get a breakdown of each school registered and keep clicking.. It gets more and more interesting! You will see how many kids in your school, and even by which groep they are in. If you want the read the materials related to the ⁠UK website CLICK HERE

    30 min
  6. Am I Losing My Child to Another Language? | Multilingual Parenting in the Netherlands

    18 FEB

    Am I Losing My Child to Another Language? | Multilingual Parenting in the Netherlands

    For International Mother Language Day 2026, we explore a rarely spoken fear in multilingual and expat families: what happens when your child becomes more fluent in the societal language than you are? Living in the Netherlands, many immigrant and international parents watch Dutch slowly take over their child’s world — friendships, school life, humor, even identity. And while multilingualism is beautiful, it can also bring subtle grief, emotional distance, and a fear of losing influence. In this episode, we explore: Why school shifts language dominance The emotional impact on parents The 8–9 year home language dip How to protect your home language without resisting Dutch Practical ways to maintain emotional closeness International Mother Language Day isn’t just about preserving languages. It’s about preserving relational access. If you’re raising multilingual children in the Netherlands (or anywhere abroad), this episode is for you. Subscribe, share with another multilingual parent, and join the conversation on Instagram @damparentingpocast

    25 min
  7. Mothering Between Worlds: Asian Identity, Parenting & Community

    11 FEB

    Mothering Between Worlds: Asian Identity, Parenting & Community

    Asian motherhood abroad comes with unique pressures — cultural expectations, career demands, identity shifts, and the quiet work of belonging. In this episode of the DAM Parenting Podcast, we’re joined by the founder of Second Steep, a community created for Asian working mothers navigating the intersections of career, culture, and care — often without a map and without enough support. Together, we explore: What makes Asian immigrant motherhood distinct Letting go of cultural expectations while staying rooted Interracial marriages and identity negotiation Raising multilingual, culturally grounded children How to introduce culture ethically in diverse cities like Amsterdam The power of community spaces that don’t require explanation We also talk about Lunar New Year, upcoming community dinners in Amsterdam and Eindhoven, and resources for raising children with cultural pride and emotional safety. A gentle, affirming conversation for Asian mums, immigrant parents, and anyone raising children abroad.

    19 min
  8. Children’s Mental Health Isn’t a Crisis to Fix — It’s a Relationship to Build (with Dr Faye Poole)

    4 FEB

    Children’s Mental Health Isn’t a Crisis to Fix — It’s a Relationship to Build (with Dr Faye Poole)

    Children’s mental health is often talked about only when something is “wrong.” But what if mental health isn’t a problem to fix — and instead something we’re supporting every single day through relationships, routines, and emotional safety? In this episode of DAM Parenting, resident child psychologist Dr Faye Poole offers a grounded, evidence-based perspective on children’s mental health — without fear-mongering, labels, or generic advice. We explore: • What children’s mental health actually means • How emotional wellbeing affects learning, relationships, and physical health • Why connection is the strongest protective factor • What stress does to children’s bodies (and how we buffer it) • Simple, research-backed ways parents can support emotional wellbeing at home This episode is especially for parents raising children abroad, navigating systems, transitions, and invisible pressure — and wondering if they’re doing “enough.” This is not about perfect parenting. It’s about safe, secure, human parenting. Listen with presence. Take what helps. Leave the rest. WHERE TO GET EXTRA HELP  For parents needing additional support, these are appropriate first steps: • Huisarts (GP) – always the first point of contact; can refer to specialist services • OKT (Ouder- en Kindteam) – parenting support, emotional wellbeing, development concerns • CJG (Centrum voor Jeugd en Gezin) – preventive child and family support • School Zorgcoördinator / IB’er – for school-based concerns • Youth Health Care (JGZ) – monitoring development, wellbeing, family support for children (0-18), with services often divided by region. General contact is usually via phone or email for appointments and questions, operating Monday-Friday, 8:30-17:00. If a child is in immediate emotional distress, parents should always contact their Huisarts (GP) or emergency services.

    24 min
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About

Parenting in the Netherlands as an international family can feel overwhelming — but you don’t have to do it alone. DAM Parenting is a weekly podcast supporting international parents through pregnancy, birth, and parenthood in the Dutch system. With 165+ episodes, we explore everything from giving birth in a system you may not fully understand to raising third-culture kids in multilingual homes. Featuring real birth stories, expert insights, and honest conversations, this is your space for clarity, reassurance, and community. You are not alone.

Information

  • Creator
    Dam Parenting Podcast
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    192
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Dam Parenting Podcast
  • Show Website
    Dam Parenting

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