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.

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 load
  

• How anxiety shows up in high-functioning parents
  

• Simple, body-based nervous system tools you can use in daily life
  

• How to reconnect with your authentic self without pressure or guilt
  

This 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

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 is

• Why winter is a season of pause, not pressure

• The invisible labour women carry — especially at Christmas

• A gentler way to enter the new year as a parent

Whether 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.

First off - please excuse the quality! I only got to record this after arriving back from holidays, unpacked, dinner, and kid put in bed! And fireworks - oh man i didn't realise you could hear them on the mic- so it was a quick record and hope for the best!

For the rest - thanks for being here in 2025 (and maybe 2024 and 2023!) and I hope you will be sticking around in 2026 for so much more to come - new voices, new topics and hopefully a less last minute podcast!

Eva and Angela explore the realities of relationships abroad — cultural differences, distance from support networks, and the emotional labour of parenting internationally. A grounded conversation about staying connected as partners and parents.

Reshared ahead of the New Year.

This episode dives into what true compromise really looks like in relationships. Dr. Naomi Gibson shares tools for communication, teamwork, and emotional honesty — helping couples move from tension to collaboration.

A powerful listen as the year winds down.

What feels hardest to compromise on?

Recorded during Men’s Mental Health Week, this episode features two fathers sharing their experiences with NICU stays, ADHD, burnout, and emotional overload. It’s an honest conversation about the realities of fatherhood and why vulnerability is strength.

= Reshared to support the whole parenting village.

Neuroscientist Dr. Elke De Witte explains how caregiving reshapes the brain — not just for mothers, but for all parents. This episode challenges outdated myths and calls for a more supportive understanding of parenthood in society and the workplace.

A reflective listen during the quieter days after Christmas.

What changed most for you after becoming a parent?