In this special episode of Dam Parenting during Men’s Mental Health Week, we open up a vital conversation about fatherhood and mental health—a topic still too often left in the shadows.

We’re joined by two fathers from our international community who share their personal journeys into parenthood. One speaks candidly about the emotional toll of having a newborn in the NICU, and the other reflects on the everyday challenges of raising a young family while living with ADHD. Different stories, same truth: fatherhood can be heavy, and vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s real strength.

Did you know?

• The rise of paternal burnout and why nearly 1 in 6 fathers in the Netherlands report burnout symptoms

• How up to 1 in 4 dads experience postpartum depression within the first six months after birth

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• With burnout, emotional overload, and the pressure to "stay strong," many fathers are struggling in silence. This episode is about breaking that silence, challenging stigma, and creating space for real conversations and support.

  
  

  STATS:

  • 15.9% of Dutch fathers report moderate parental burnout, with 0.4% experiencing high burnout
    PMC Study on Parental Burnout

  • Up to 25.6% of fathers may experience postpartum depression, especially within 3–6 months postpartum
    PubMed Meta-analysis

  • Rising awareness of paternal mental health issues, yet routine screening is still uncommon
    Springer Open Access Study

  • Growing mental overload for fathers with neurodivergent conditions like ADHD
    

  
  

In this episode, we delve into the profound insights of Erica Komisar, a licensed clinical social worker, psychoanalyst, and author renowned for her work on the emotional needs of children and the pivotal role of parental presence. With over 30 years of experience in private practice, Erica has become a leading voice in discussions about motherhood, attachment theory, and child development.

Erica's perspective emphasises the critical importance of a mother's physical and emotional presence during the first three years of a child's life—a period she identifies as foundational for healthy emotional development. Her book, Being There: Why Prioritizing Motherhood in the First Three Years Matters, explores this concept in depth, offering guidance for parents navigating the complexities of early childhood care.

This episode is dedicated to mothers who may feel overwhelmed, questioning, or in need of affirmation. It's a reminder that seeking support and understanding is a strength, and that every parent's journey is valid and deserving of respect.

What You'll Learn:

• The foundational principles of attachment theory and its relevance to early childhood development.

• Insights from Erica's research on the impact of maternal presence in the first three years.

• Discussion on the societal pressures faced by modern mothers and how to navigate them.

• Strategies for building a supportive community and finding balance in parenting roles.

Resources:

• Erica Komisar's Website

• Being There: Why Prioritizing Motherhood in the First Three Years Matters

• Chicken Little: The Sky Isn't Falling

  (no affiliate links)

Connect with Us:

• Instagram

In honour of LGBTQ+ Families Day I'm thrilled to welcome Jillian to the Dam Parenting podcast. This special day celebrates the diversity, resilience, and love within LGBTQ+ families, highlighting that not all families fit into the traditional structure of one mother and one father.

Jillian shares her personal journey of moving to the Netherlands as part of a same-sex couple, seeking a welcoming environment to raise their child. Despite initial challenges in finding the support they hoped for, Jillian has since flourished—establishing her own business, launching a podcast, and becoming a vital resource for other LGBTQ+ families navigating similar paths.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The motivations and research behind choosing the Netherlands as a home for their family

• The realities faced upon arrival and the gaps in support systems

• Jillian's journey to building a supportive network and community

• Resources and advice for LGBTQ+ families considering or adjusting to life in the Netherlands

Whether you're part of the LGBTQ+ community, an ally, or someone interested in the diverse experiences of international families, Jillian's story offers valuable insights and inspiration.

Resources Mentioned:

• The webinar Jillian spoke about details can be found below i the link. The next webinar is expected July 11th.

  Online space with an abundance of resources

Join the Conversation:

We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Share your experiences or questions on our Instagram

Subscribe & Review:

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to Dam Parenting on your favourite podcast platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us reach more listeners and continue sharing diverse parenting stories.

Connect with us onInstagram

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• Thank you for celebrating LGBTQ+ Families Day with us and for being part of our community.

Welcome to the first instalment of our new monthly mini-series on Dam Parenting, where we delve into significant parenting topics in concise, manageable episodes. We're thrilled to reintroduce our resident child psychologist, Faye from Kerr Psychology, who previously joined us in Episode 75 to discuss building resilience and a growth mindset in children.

To kick off this new series , Eva and Faye will explore the world of "big emotions" in young children—those intense reactions that can be perplexing and challenging for parents. Faye helps us understand the developmental aspects behind these emotions and offers practical strategies for managing them effectively.

What You'll Learn:

• Defining Big Emotions: Understanding what constitutes "big emotions" in young children and why they occur.

• Developmental Insights: Exploring the role of brain development, including the amygdala and prefrontal cortex, in children's emotional responses.

• Everyday Examples: Discussing common scenarios like frustration over putting on shoes, food refusal, and end-of-day meltdowns, and what they signify.

• Meltdowns vs. Tantrums: Differentiating between the two and understanding age-related factors.

• Co-Regulation Techniques: Learning how to stay calm and connected, using phrases like "I see you're upset. I'm here with you."

• "Name It to Tame It": The importance of labeling emotions to help children feel understood and develop self-regulation skills.

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• Resources Mentioned:

  • Introducing helpful tools and books, such as The Invisible String, or The Huge Bag of Worries to support emotional development.

    Other examples: The Worrysaurus and Stompysaurus by Rachel Bright

  Connect with Us:

  • Instagram: Follow us @damparenting for updates and parenting tips.

  • Subscribe: Don't miss out on future episodes—subscribe to Dam Parenting on your favourite podcast platform.

  • Leave a Review: If you found this episode helpful, please leave us a rating and review. Your feedback helps us reach more parents and caregivers.

  Join the Conversation:

  Have questions or topics you'd like us to cover in future episodes? Reach out to us on Instagram or through our website.

  Thank you for tuning in to Dam Parenting. Remember, understanding your child's big emotions is a step toward more connected and empathetic parenting.

Grief Is Grief: Why Everyone Should Sign This Petition

Today’s episode brings attention to a critical, often overlooked gap in workplace policy: the lack of national grievance leave for parents who experience pregnancy loss before 24 weeks. Currently, there is no legal protection or standard allowance for time off — it's left to individual employers to decide, leaving many to return to work while still deep in grief.

I’m joined by Fidessa, a powerful voice behind a growing petition calling for grievance time to be recognized on a national scale — regardless of pregnancy gestation. While a draft government proposal begins support at week 24, we ask the difficult question: What about the grief before that? Is it any less real?

This conversation is about raising awareness, honouring early loss, and pushing for policies that reflect the lived realities of so many parents. Miscarriage, stillbirth, and pregnancy loss deserve more than silence and a swift return to business as usual.

Please don’t just listen — sign the petition and share it widely. Ask your partner, friends, family, and coworkers to stand with us in recognizing that grief has no timeline — and support shouldn’t either.

Thank you to Fidessa and Renée for both putting the effort into creating this .

Click on the link here

Time to Grieve report in UK

Episode 1 of our Monthly Multilingual Series with MiMi

Are you constantly wondering: “Am I doing enough to support my child’s bilingual development?” You’re not alone—and this episode is for you.

In the first episode of our new multilingual parenting mini-series, host Eva is joined by MiMi of Growing Up Multilingual to explore the invisible emotional load many international parents carry while raising children with more than one language.

They unpack the quiet pressures, guilt, and self-doubt that often live beneath the surface—and why self-awareness (not doing more) is the most powerful tool we have. Together, they talk about redefining what “enough” means in a multilingual family, anchoring in your personal “why,” and how your emotional well-being is directly connected to your child’s language development.

Whether you’re a tired parent on a quick walk, a caregiver juggling cultures, or someone raising kids across borders and languages—this conversation is here to offer relief, clarity, and connection.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• The emotional complexity of raising multilingual children

• How self-awareness can lighten your parenting load

• Why perfection isn’t the goal—connection is

• Simple, sustainable strategies for language exposure

• What the research really says about maternal well-being and language development

• Letting go of comparison and doing what truly matters to your family

It’s not about doing more—it’s about doing what matters, on purpose. Tune in, take a breath, and know this: You’re not behind. You’re not alone. And you’re doing more than enough.

Subscribe, rate, and share this episode with fellow multilingual families. MiMi will be joining us every month to dive even deeper into these powerful, real-life conversations.

Links to topics discussed

-A study published in the Journal of Child Language found that maternal mental health predicts the richness of a child's home language environment and even their expressive language skills - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33818326/

Trigger Warning: Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) – More Than Morning Sickness

In this powerful episode, we shine a spotlight on Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG)—a severe, often misunderstood pregnancy complication that affects up to 3.6% of pregnant individuals in the Netherlands. Unlike common morning sickness, HG brings relentless nausea, uncontrollable vomiting, dehydration, and extreme weight loss—sometimes requiring hospitalization for months.

Our guest, Jessica Sinay from ⁠Stichting ZEHG⁠, shares her personal and emotional journey battling HG multiple times. She offers insight into the mental, emotional, and physical toll of the condition, and the lack of medical recognition HG still faces today. We also discuss the critical need for national treatment guidelines currently being developed in the Netherlands.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What is Hyperemesis Gravidarum, and how is it diagnosed?

• Common treatments in the Netherlands (Amesafene, Primperan, Ondansetron)

• The long-term impact of HG: PTSD, postpartum depression, digestive issues, dental problems

• • Support networks for women, partners, and families via Stichting ZEHG
  • Access to HG coaches trained to support women mentally and practically during/after HG (see: ⁠www.hgcoach.nl⁠)

• • The work of ⁠⁠ Professor Rebecca Painter⁠⁠⁠, a leading expert on HG and malnutrition at Erasmus MC

  • Global efforts via ICHG charity network⁠⁠:: International collaboration with clinicians and patient groups from the UK, US, Australia, and more

    
    

  Resources & Support:

  • HG Coaches & Mental Health Support

• • Private Dutch HG Facebook communities for women, partners, and families

  • A private Facebook community ⁠ (>4,400 members)

    ⁠Dutch HG group for partners of women with HG ⁠

    ⁠ Dutch HG group for family, friends etc⁠ ⁠⁠⁠

• • A network of trained dietitian's in cooperation with ⁠Novita in Utrecht⁠

  • • Partner stories and recovery support articles on the ⁠official website⁠
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  ⁠You can make a donation to Stichting ZEHG here and support better care for women with HG.

  Listen now and help raise awareness about this life-altering pregnancy condition.

  #HyperemesisGravidarum #PregnancySupport #StichtingZEHG #HGAwareness #MaternalHealth #PregnancyPodcast #DutchHealthcare

  
  

  
  

  
  

It’s a new season on DAM Parenting — and we’re kicking things off with a familiar voice. In this episode, Eva reconnects with Harriet, one of our early guests, for a heartfelt 14-month postpartum check-in. What has shifted? What stayed the same? And what does motherhood really feel like more than a year in?

Together, they reflect on identity, expectations vs. reality, the unexpected joys, and the parts no one prepares you for.

This isn’t just a catch-up — it’s a raw, honest window into the ongoing journey of becoming a mother, well beyond the early baby days.

Whether you're in the thick of postpartum life or reflecting back from further down the road, this episode offers a moment to pause, relate, and breathe.

You can find Harriet on Instagram here