57) Revisiting Multilingual families!

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 homeThis 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.

4 Feb 23min

Head lice. Nits. Luizen. If your child has ever come home scratching their head, this episode is for you.In this solo episode, Eva shares a very real parenting story , breaks down the facts about how lice actually spread, and tackles the shame and silence that often surround infestations.You’ll learn:How head lice really spread (and what doesn’t cause them)Why hygiene has nothing to do with itWhy lice are common in schools and even high schoolsWhat treatments actually work (and what doesn’t)How community responsibility helps stop outbreaksHumorous, factual, supportive—and stigma-free. Because lice are common. Parenting shame shouldn’t be.

31 Jan 6min

Starting school in a new language is not just a cognitive challenge — it’s an emotional one. In this episode of the DAM Parenting Podcast, Eva is joined by Mimi from Growing Up Multilingual, residential linguist and emotional language specialist, to explore why emotional vocabulary is one of the most powerful tools for multilingual children starting school.We unpack: – Why children starting school in a new language carry both a language load and an emotional load – The myth that kids “just pick up” emotional language naturally – What multilingual children actually experience emotionally in the classroom – Why building emotional vocabulary in the home language is essential – Practical ways parents can support emotional expression across languages – The core emotional and needs-based words children benefit from before starting school – What teachers and schools can do to better support multilingual learnersWhether your child is about to start school, just started, or is already navigating life between languages, this episode will help you understand how emotional language builds safety, belonging, and confidence.Perfect for international parents, expat families, bilingual households, educators, and anyone raising children between cultures.

28 Jan 30min

Joy isn’t frivolous — it’s sustaining. This episode explores how joy supports resilience, regulation, and emotional wellbeing in parenting.This episode explores how parents can create more joy and connection in 2026 using simple, research-backed practices. Eva, a psychologist, and founder of The Joy Embassy explains how joy strengthens relationships, protects against burnout, and helps parents feel more present in daily life. Listeners will learn: • How joy works in the brain and body • Why joy supports emotional resilience • Simple tools to notice, strengthen, and create joy • How to accept hard emotions without avoiding themGuest: Eva — The Joy Embassy Website: thejoyembassy.com

21 Jan 39min

Parenthood changes priorities.What happens when your life changes — but your work doesn’t?After becoming a parent, relocating, or stepping back from paid work, many people experience a quiet sense of misalignment. Not burnout exactly. Not a crisis. Just the feeling that what once fit… no longer does.In this episode of the Dam Parenting Podcast, Eva is joined by Ellen Johnson, founder of Evergreen Coaching & Consulting — a returning guest you may remember from her deeply honest birth story shared late last year.This conversation builds on last week’s episode with Rachel about regulation. Once the nervous system settles, clarity often follows. And that’s where we begin.Together, we explore:How to recognise when your work no longer aligns with your valuesWhy big life transitions (parenthood, burnout, relocation) often trigger career questionsHow to redefine success after children — without pressure to “start over”What it looks like to re-enter work intentionally after a pauseHow to stay aligned as your values and life stages continue to evolveEllen supports people through transitions with a rare combination of insight and calm. One client described her as having “the patience of your favourite teacher, the trustworthiness of your favourite therapist, and the knowledge of the best supervisor you could ever hope for.”If you’re:Working but feeling quietly misalignedNot currently in paid work and wondering what’s nextOr sensing that something in you wants more clarity — not urgencyThis episode is an invitation to pause, reflect, and reconnect with what matters now. Listen with intention — and come back to it when you have space to really sit with the questions.Head over to Instagram to find out visual support queues Ellen created just for you.Find Ellen and her work at evergreen-cc.com

14 Jan 33min

Welcome to Dam Parenting in 2026.Here's a brief overview of who we are, what we do and what you can expect from us.

10 Jan 1min

Parenting abroad comes with an invisible stress load — new systems, cultural differences, mental load, and the constant feeling of needing to keep up. For many international parents, this shows up as chronic overwhelm, anxiety, and a sense of losing themselves along the way.In this episode of DAM Parenting, therapist Rachel Forster joins us to talk about what stress and anxiety really look like in parents — especially those raising children far from their home country.This is not about fixing yourself or adding more to your to-do list. It’s about calming the nervous system, reducing overwhelm, and gently reconnecting with who you are beneath the roles of parent, planner, and problem-solver.You’ll hear about:Why parenting abroad increases stress and mental loadHow anxiety shows up in high-functioning parentsSimple, body-based nervous system tools you can use in daily lifeHow to reconnect with your authentic self without pressure or guiltThis episode includes a short, guided regulation reset you can try while listening — even if you’re exhausted, overstimulated, or short on time. Guest: Rachel Forster, Therapist Learn more: rachaelforstertherapy.com

7 Jan 29min

January 6th marks Nollaig na mBan — Women’s Christmas — a traditional Irish day that honours women’s unseen work and the need for rest after the intensity of Christmas.In this short DAM Parenting episode, Eva shares why January was never meant to be about productivity, motivation, or “starting fresh” — especially for mothers carrying the mental load of family life.This episode explores:What Nollaig na mBan (Women’s Christmas) really isWhy winter is a season of pause, not pressureThe invisible labour women carry — especially at ChristmasA gentler way to enter the new year as a parentWhether you’re an expat, immigrant parent, or raising children far from home, this episode is an invitation to slow down — without guilt.Listen now for a moment of reflection, recognition, and rest. If this episode resonates, share it with another mother — or claim your own Nollaig na mBan today.

6 Jan 5min