It’s holiday time, and Eva and Maren are taking a break, so we’re revisiting some of our most popular episodes—the ones that have resonated deeply with you, sparked connections, and offered words that help you feel seen in your parenting journey.

Becoming a parent is a beautiful, challenging, and often unpredictable experience. We all go through struggles at different points—sometimes alongside you, sometimes a bit ahead, and sometimes we’re here when you need to revisit those important conversations.

In this episode, we revisit the housing challenges that so many international families face, a topic that has sparked a lot of discussions. Housing stress can cause frustration, confusion, exhaustion, and even heartbreak, especially when bids don’t get accepted or when the search for a place to call home becomes overwhelming. We dive deep into how housing uncertainty impacts expat families and how you can manage these stressors while keeping your family’s well-being in mind.

How has your experience been? Whether you’re still in the search or have recently moved, this episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating the rollercoaster that is finding a home abroad.

Parenthood is a beautiful, exhausting, and often overwhelming transition, especially when you’re navigating it far from home. In this fan-favorite encore episode, we welcome renowned postpartum doula Harriet to take a warm, honest, and direct look at what new parents can actually expect once the baby arrives. Recorded while Harriet was in her own third trimester, this conversation blends professional expertise with the raw, personal anticipation of a first-time mother.

Harriet shares invaluable insights on how to prepare for the "Fourth Trimester," from managing physical recovery to protecting your mental well-being. We discuss the practical role of a postpartum doula and why asking for help isn't a sign of weakness—it’s a strategy for success. Whether you’re currently nesting or already in the thick of it, this episode offers the support and perspective you need to navigate the early days of motherhood with confidence.

As the holiday season settles in, Eva and Maren are taking a well-deserved break and revisiting one of the most-downloaded conversations in Dam Parenting history: the "Spoiling" episode. In this warm, honest, and direct replay, we tackle the guilt and confusion many international parents feel. Are we "spoiling" our kids with things to compensate for the distance from family, or are we simply parenting differently than the generations before us?

We revisit the heartfelt insights that resonated so deeply with our community, exploring the line between nurturing our children’s happiness and overindulging their every whim. Whether you’re currently navigating holiday wishlists or simply reflecting on your long-term parenting goals, this episode offers comfort, connection, and a reminder that you aren't alone in these questions. Pull up a chair and join us for a real conversation about what it actually means to give our children "the best" while living abroad.

As the summer holidays approach, parents are "taking the show on the road"—but does anyone actually get a rest? 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 reality of family vacations. We move past the glossy travel photos to discuss the logistics of packing stress, the exhaustion of long road trips, and the heavy emotional pressure to create "perfect" memories.

Dr. Naomi shares strategies for managing the inevitable rollercoaster of emotions and offers practical tips for navigating the transition from home life to holiday mode. We explore how to set realistic expectations, divide responsibilities so everyone gets a moment of peace, and handle the unpredictability of traveling with little ones. Whether you're heading to the Mediterranean or staying local in the Benelux, this episode is your guide to trading holiday burnout for genuine family connection.

The big four is approaching! In this episode of DAMChats, Eva and Maren are in full birthday-planning mode as their daughters prepare to turn four. Navigating the toy aisles (or the endless scrolling of online shops) can be overwhelming, so we’ve done the homework for you. We both sat down separately to draft our "shortlists" and are now coming together for a warm, honest, and direct comparison of what we’re actually considering buying.

From open-ended play and Dutch-weather-friendly gear to gifts that spark creativity without cluttering your home, we’re sharing our top picks for this specific developmental stage. This isn’t a sponsored gift guide; it’s a candid conversation between two moms trying to find that perfect balance between "magical" and "practical." Tune in to hear our ideas, find out what we’re skipping this year, and then head over to Instagram to share the genius gift ideas we might have missed!

The holidays are approaching, and while the packing is a feat in itself, the actual journey is where the real challenge begins. In this episode of Dam Parenting, we sit down with ⁠JetSetGabrielle⁠ to take a warm, honest, and direct look at the art of traveling with kids. Gabrielle pulls back the "Instagram curtain" to reveal the messy reality of family trips and shares the practical strategies she’s mastered to move from survival mode to actually enjoying the ride.

We dive into the logistics of family-friendly travel, from navigating airports with multiple children to managing the emotional ups and downs of long-haul flights. Whether you're a first-time parent dreading that initial flight or a seasoned traveler looking for fresh gems, Gabrielle’s real-life advice will help you reclaim the joy of adventure. Travel with kids is never perfect, but with the right mindset and a few insider secrets, it can be a lot more fun.

We all enter parenthood with a vision of how we’ll raise our children, but what happens when exhaustion and reality take over? In this installment of the DamGoode Book Club, our resident librarian and writer, Elizabeth, revisits the influential book The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read. Having first read it during pregnancy, Elizabeth shares how her perspective has shifted now that her daughter is one.

Alongside Eva and Maren, we take a warm, honest, and direct look at the gap between parenting ideals and the daily survival of sleepless nights. This isn't just a book review; it’s a conversation about cultural perspectives, emotional triggers, and the camaraderie of doing our best. Whether you’ve read every page or haven't had a spare second to pick up a book, this episode offers vital takeaways on connection and breaking old patterns. Join the conversation on Instagram and tell us: which parenting books actually changed the way you show up for your kids?

How do you react when your child points out a difference in public? In this workshop-style episode of Dam Parenting, DEI advocate Isabel Cruz joins us to take a warm, honest, and direct look at raising culturally aware children in a diverse world. Living in the Netherlands offers a unique melting pot of cultures, but it also requires us to be intentional about how we discuss race, skin color, and heritage.

Isabel shares practical strategies for answering those "tricky" questions with honesty and compassion rather than hushed silence. We dive into a curated list of essential books—from Antiracist Baby to the works of Amsterdam’s own Mylo Freeman—and explore local resources like Colourful Goodies and the Bijlmer Bookstore. Whether you’re navigating a specific question or want to proactively build a more inclusive home library, this episode equips you with the tools to foster understanding and celebrate representation. It’s time to lean into the conversation.

Books to explore with your kids:

Antiracist Baby
Global Babies

All Are Welcome
Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race

I Walk with Vanessa

Saturday

Under My Hijab

My Family Your Family

Anything by Mylo Freeman (Instagram: ⁠@mylofreeman⁠)

Find some of these books at Monti's World - located in De Pijp, Amsterdam and other local stores like Colourful Goodies, Bijlmer Bookstore, and Indo Shop

Links:

This is a good article to share about why Mylo Freeman created the Princess Arabella series

Colourful Goodies in Noord specializes in books and dolls that offer a wide range of representation

Bijlmer Bookstore
Indo Shop
Kies Kleurig 

For more on the Keti Koti celebration in Amsterdam, visit:: https://ketikotiamsterdam.nl/

Resources for parents to raise anti-racist children:

• Books:

• Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners: books for children and young adults

• 31 Children's books to support conversations on race, racism and resistance

• Podcasts:

• Parenting Forward podcast episode ‘Five Pandemic Parenting Lessons with Cindy Wang Brandt’

• Fare of the Free Child podcast

• Integrated Schools podcast episode “Raising White Kids with Jennifer Harvey”

• Articles:

• How White Parents Can Talk To Their Kids About Race | NPR

• Teaching Your Child About Black History Month | PBS

• Your Kids Aren't Too Young to Talk About Race: Resource Roundup from Pretty Good

What happens to your birth plan when there is already a little one at home? In this installment of our Village Vibes series, we’re joined by Helen, a mom of two from England living in the Netherlands, to share the raw and real story of her second home birth.

Helen takes a warm, honest, and direct look at the logistical and emotional puzzle of birthing at home while managing the needs of her firstborn. We discuss the transition from the "ideal" birth plan to the reality of labor, the unique strength required to stay present, and how she navigated the Dutch maternity system as an international parent. Whether you are currently pregnant with your second or weighing the pros and cons of a home birth, Helen’s journey offers a roadmap for resilience and a reminder that every birth story is a vital piece of our collective village. Have a story of your own? Reach out—we’d love to feature you.

If you’ve ever felt discouraged by the "language gap" or worried that your child is losing their connection to your home culture, this episode is for you. Eowyn Crisfield returns to Dam Parenting to offer a warm, honest, and direct reminder: multilingualism is a marathon, not a sprint—and it is never too late to start or refocus.

We cut through common myths about language delays and assimilation pressures, focusing instead on the profound gift of cultural identity. Eowyn shares simple, effective strategies to keep your home language thriving while living in the Netherlands. Whether you’re struggling with the daily "hard work" of bilingualism or feeling the pressure to conform, we’re here to remind you that the research is clear—the benefits are worth every effort. Join Eva and Maren for this essential follow-up to episodes 25 and 30. You are not alone in this journey; let’s keep pushing forward together.