Dam Parenting

Dam Parenting Podcast
  • 5.0 (7)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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. Navigating Cancer in the Netherlands as an Expat | Support for English-Speaking Internationals

    1D AGO

    Navigating Cancer in the Netherlands as an Expat | Support for English-Speaking Internationals

    Cancer as an expat in the Netherlands hits differently. In this episode of DAM Parenting, we speak with Katherine, founder of Cancer Support Netherlands — a Dutch non-profit offering English-language, community-based support for internationals navigating cancer. Being diagnosed with cancer can turn life upside down. But for those living far from home — expats, immigrants, international families — the experience can feel even more isolating. Navigating treatment in a different language, without your usual support systems, while trying to process the emotional weight of illness… can be overwhelming. Cancer Support Netherlands was created to bridge this gap. In this episode, we explore: • What it means to face cancer while living abroad • Language barriers in the Dutch healthcare system • The emotional reality of illness without family nearby • Support for partners, caregivers, and families • The importance of English-language peer support • How community spaces can change the experience of cancer Cancer Support Netherlands offers: • Confidential peer support groups • English-language community spaces • Events, workshops, and expert-led sessions • Support for patients, survivors, and caregivers • Flexible ways to connect — privately or in community They welcome: • Expats and internationals • Migrants and immigrants • Refugees • Binational families • Long-term residents • Anyone who feels most comfortable expressing themselves in English This episode is released in recognition of Daffodil Day — a national day of cancer awareness in Ireland. Because cancer awareness isn’t just one day a year. And for those living abroad, the need for support doesn’t follow a calendar. If you are navigating cancer, supporting someone who is, or part of an international community in the Netherlands — this episode is for you. No one should face cancer alone. And language should never be a barrier to support. Links for suport: Public Page (Friends & Supporters) Follow our work, events, advocacy and Hive Network updates: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Bm2VGKr5b/?mibextid=wwXIfr  Facebook Private Support Group (confidential space) For emotional support, connection, and sharing with others affected by cancer: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1DBabL8fWr/?mibextid=wwXIfr  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cancer_support_netherlands  LinkedIn https://nl.linkedin.com/company/cancer-support-netherlands

    29 min
  2. Autism & Bilingualism: You Don't Have to Choose with Mimi

    3D AGO

    Autism & Bilingualism: You Don't Have to Choose with Mimi

    You've just received an autism diagnosis for your child — and suddenly someone tells you to stop speaking your home language. For international families in the Netherlands, that advice doesn't just feel wrong. It feels like losing a piece of who you are. In this episode, Eva sits down with linguist and multilingualism specialist Mimi Potvin to talk about what the research actually says about raising autistic children in multilingual families — and why so much of the advice parents receive is simply not supported by science. After listening, you'll know why bilingualism does not cause additional language delays in autistic children, what actually happens when families are told to drop their home language, and how to build a flexible, child-led language approach that supports both development and belonging. New episodes every week. Subscribe wherever you listen.

    21 min
  3. Matrescence & Body Image: Why Motherhood Changes How We See Our Bodies | Ilena Standring

    MAR 11

    Matrescence & Body Image: Why Motherhood Changes How We See Our Bodies | Ilena Standring

    Becoming a mother is a total biological and psychological transformation, yet society often expects us to "bounce back" as if nothing happened. In this archive favorite, Eva continues the conversation on matrescence with Amsterdam-based doula Ilena Standring, focusing on the deeply personal topic of body image. We move past the superficial to have a warm, honest, and direct conversation about why so many women feel like strangers in their own skin after pregnancy. We explore how patriarchal beauty standards and diet culture complicate the postpartum experience, and why shifting your focus from body perfection to body functionality can be life-changing. Please note: this episode touches on sensitive topics, including trauma and sexual abuse. This is a journey toward learning to inhabit yourself again—not as the person you were before, but as the woman you are now. Your body adapted, healed, and sustained life; it’s time to offer it the compassion it deserves.

    54 min
  4. Matrescence Explained: Why Mothers Feel Like They are Losing Their Identity

    MAR 7

    Matrescence Explained: Why Mothers Feel Like They are Losing Their Identity

    Matrescence isn't a one-time event; it’s an ongoing evolution. In this special archive episode of Dam Parenting, we revisit a powerful conversation with Amsterdam-based doula Ilena Standring that is just as relevant today as it was two years ago. While many of us have now heard the term "matrescence," we often still struggle with the quiet, daily reality of feeling like we’ve lost ourselves in the process of raising children. We take a warm, honest, and direct look at the emotional and psychological rewiring that happens when we become mothers. Ilena shares her profound insights on holding space for this transition, helping you recognize that the "identity fog" you might be feeling isn't a failure—it's a transformation. Whether you are a new parent or years into the journey, this episode is a reminder to bring these silent shifts back into the light. It’s time to stop just surviving your new identity and start honoring the woman you are becoming.

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

    MAR 4

    The Identity Shift in Motherhood: Understanding Matrescence

    Why is it that 67% of mothers have never heard the word "matrescence," yet almost all of them are living through it? In this powerful and essential conversation, Eva sits down with clinical psychologist Dr. Naomi Gibson to unpack the developmental process of becoming a mother. Much like adolescence, matrescence involves a massive rewiring of the brain, hormonal shifts, and a complete reorganization of your identity. We take a warm, honest, and direct look at why so many mothers—especially those raising families abroad—feel "lost" after having a baby. We explore why defining yourself solely as a "mother" can be harmful to your mental health and how to navigate the dip in self-esteem that often follows this life-altering transition. If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and asked, "Who am I now?" this episode is your permission slip to acknowledge that you aren't just a parent—you are a woman in the middle of a massive evolution.

    51 min
  6. Parenting a Child with a Rare Disease: Support and Community in the Netherlands

    FEB 28

    Parenting a Child with a Rare Disease: Support and Community in the Netherlands

    Parenthood rarely follows the script we imagine, but for families navigating a rare disease diagnosis, the shift can feel overwhelming. In this warm, honest, and direct episode for Rare Disease Day, Eva is joined by Sarah, who shares her family’s lived experience of parenting in the Netherlands through the lens of a rare condition. We move past the clinical details to discuss the "human" side: the initial grief, the search for a diagnosis, and the power of finding a community that truly understands. Sarah introduces A Different Story, a vital space created for parents in the Netherlands to be seen, heard, and held. We discuss how labels can serve as tools for finding support rather than reasons for hiding, and why building a village of "rare" parents is essential for maintaining your own resilience. Whether you are at the start of a diagnostic journey or are looking for ways to advocate for your child’s dignity, this episode reminds you that you don't have to navigate the path alone.

    23 min
  7. Montessori at Home: Practical Tips for Parents in the Netherlands with Simone Davies

    FEB 25

    Montessori at Home: Practical Tips for Parents in the Netherlands with Simone Davies

    Montessori education is woven into the fabric of Dutch life, but it’s more than just wooden toys and minimalist aesthetics. In this top-10 replay for Montessori Education Week, Eva sits down with Simone Davies, world-renowned author of The Montessori Toddler and founder of Amsterdam’s Jacaranda Tree Montessori. We take a warm, honest, and direct look at how to bring these principles into your home without feeling overwhelmed. Simone explains how to shift your child from dependence to collaboration and eventually independence. We explore the power of observation in transforming "behavior problems" into moments of deep connection and how to foster intrinsic motivation without using pressure or control. Whether you are navigating the Dutch basisschool system or simply want a home where your child feels truly welcome and capable, this conversation offers the grounded, research-backed tools you need to support your child’s development in the Netherlands.

    46 min
  8. Growing Up Smartphone-Free in the Netherlands: The Movement Parents Need to Know

    FEB 21

    Growing Up Smartphone-Free in the Netherlands: The Movement Parents Need to Know

    It starts with a simple request from a child to "put the phone away" and grows into a national conversation. In this episode of Dam Parenting, we explore the grassroots movement Smartphonevrij Opgroeien (Growing Up Smartphone-Free) and what it means for international families in the Netherlands. We take a warm, honest, and direct look at the research linking early smartphone use to anxiety and sleep disruption, and why experts are now recommending a "wait until 15" approach for social media. We break down how the movement works locally, from checking your school’s participation stats to joining English-speaking WhatsApp groups for peer support. This episode offers practical advice on how to delay device access without socially isolating your child. Whether you have a toddler or a pre-teen, this is an essential guide to prioritizing "pro-childhood" values over digital pressure. It’s time to move past the screen and back to the connection. 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
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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
    195
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Dam Parenting Podcast
  • Show Website
    Dam Parenting

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