16) Parenting and the Holidays: Navigating Family Dynamics and "Going Home" with Dr Naomi

'Tis the season for the "great trek" back to our home countries—but returning to our roots looks different once we’re the ones pushing the stroller. In this episode of Dam Parenting, we take a warm, honest, and direct look at the emotional tug-of-war that happens when international parents in the Netherlands visit family for the holidays.How do we balance old family roles with our new identities as parents? Our resident psychologist, Dr. Naomi Gibson, joins Eva and Maren to provide a "mental map" for navigating the festive season. We discuss the pressure of creating "perfect" traditions, managing unsolicited advice from grandparents, and the exhaustion of being the "architect" of your own family while sleeping in your childhood bedroom. Whether you’re bracing for difficult conversations or just trying to keep your routine intact, this episode offers the tools to help you dance through the holidays with grace and clear boundaries.