Dam Parenting

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

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 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

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.

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!