Nothing prepares you to be a parent, they say. María disagrees.
Hi, I’m María, a.k.a. Mamamaria. I’m a psychologist, a certified Aware Parenting Coach, and mama of three in a blended international family. A few years ago I left a flexible, stable, well-paid consultancy job for Bill Gates for the thing I actually wanted to do with my life: build Mamamaria, a practice that helps people decide whether to become parents, prepares parents before the baby arrives, and supports parents who are already struggling.
Why bother? Because we live in a society that’s starved of connection, care, and community, and we’re left to figure out the hardest job on the planet on our own. I firmly believe that 99% of our society’s problems trace back to our childhood experiences.
How I got here
I always wanted children. I never really thought about what it takes to be a good parent, I assumed love was enough. I had no clue about:
- The impact of stress hormones in the womb
- How important attachment is throughout life
- How easy it is to repeat your own parents’ dysfunctional patterns
- How to function on total exhaustion and sleep deprivation
- How to reinvent yourself and find a new identity
- How to work through constant conflict with your partner
- The real financial cost of raising children
I’m not talking about reading a couple of books, taking a birth class, or having the cutest baby clothes sorted. I’m talking about preparing from within to parent a whole human being for the rest of your life, not just for the arrival of a cute baby.
At Mamamaria, I bring awareness to how you were parented and the coping mechanisms you picked up along the way, and I help you understand your own children through the philosophy of Aware Parenting. I also work on two practical pillars: financial preparedness and time management, because every parent knows why money and time matter so much. In short: I help you work on your stuff, with love, so your kids don’t have to.
Why prepare at all?
Most people think “we’ll learn as we go.” Instead, we become another statistic:
- 67% of parents are burnt out
- 50% of parents feel lonely
- 20% of parents experience postpartum depression
- 40% of couples separate before their first child turns 5
By the time most of us figure things out, the most critical years of a person’s life have already passed, the 0-3 window will make us or break us. Invest here, or pay for it later in remedial parenting and separations.
I used to be part of those statistics myself. I’m not anymore. My family is thriving, not struggling, some days are still hard, but now I have a roadmap.
The Mamamaria difference
Parenting isn’t one size fits all. Some days you need a quick fix for tantrums or bedtime battles. Other days you hit the painful realization that you’re becoming your mother.
Everything I create at Mamamaria is built to meet you where you are: a frazzled parent of toddlers, someone still deciding if they want kids, a parent preparing for their first child, or a parent looking to deepen connection with kids who are growing up.
Coaching services
Quick Fix (I come to you)
Parenting swings fast, one minute your child eats their broccoli without protest, the next you’re refereeing a meltdown over the “wrong” color cup. Quick Fix is a lifeline for that: I come to you, virtually or in person, with practical, personalized solutions. We build strategies around your child’s personality, your parenting style, and your daily routine, sibling rivalry, sleep struggles, epic meltdowns, whatever’s making your head spin.
1-on-1 parenting coaching
Sometimes a quick fix isn’t enough. Maybe you keep hitting the same pattern, feel disconnected from your child, or feel crushed by parenting pressure in general. 1-on-1 coaching is the deeper dive, addressing the root causes so the change actually lasts. Together we explore:
- Why certain behaviors trigger you (often more about your own childhood than you’d think)
- How to build stronger connection with your children through empathy and awareness
- Strategies to navigate challenges with clarity
This isn’t a list of parenting tips. It’s inside-out work, to heal, grow, and become the parent you’re aiming to be.
Courses
Prefer to learn at your own pace? These courses cover specific parenting challenges and transitions in depth.
Ready for Baby: Family Foundations
Built for future parents and newbies who want to start with confidence, emotional preparation as well as practical tips. This is not a birth-prep course; it’s about laying the foundations for a healthy life as a parent, structured around the SMART framework:
Self-Development and Self-Care, parenting shines a spotlight on your unhealed childhood wounds. We work on breaking cycles, forgiving our own parents (or at least trying), and taking care of ourselves so we don’t lose it over spilled milk.
Money, kids are tiny financial hurricanes. We cover saving, investing, and getting on good terms with money, so you can still afford self-care, date nights, and the odd family holiday. Paul van der Kwast, our finance guru, keeps this part practical and doable.
Aware Parenting, parenting without bribes or threats. This approach helps you raise kind, cooperative kids while staying sane, covering sleep, tantrums, and the days you want to hide in the pantry.
Relationships and Community, nothing tests a relationship like a baby who won’t sleep. We dig into communication, dividing roles, and finding your village, because you shouldn’t have to do this alone.
Time, time disappears when kids show up. We cover hacks, mindset shifts, and the odd trick to help you get things done, and maybe even carve out a little time for yourself.
Wild Child: Rekindle with your kid
All kids have moments that drive us up the wall, but when those moments turn into a consistent pattern, it can feel like you’re losing touch with your child. Wild Child teaches you to rebuild trust and connection through a mix of practical tools and emotional insight. You’ll learn to:
- Understand the underlying needs driving your child’s behavior
- Respond with empathy and clarity, even in challenging moments
- Strengthen your bond and build a calmer home
Aware Parenting Workshop
The basics of Aware Parenting in under two hours, including examples of Attachment Play.
BBABBY Fair
BBABBY Fair (Before, Belly, Birth, and Beyond) is an event I created myself to support future parents, families, and anyone trying to conceive. It’s a holistic fair focused on the emotional, mental, and physical sides of the journey to parenthood, going beyond the usual consumer-focused baby events. The first edition covered conception, pregnancy, birth, postpartum recovery, and early parenting, bringing together care providers, panel discussions, workshops, and booths on mental health, attachment, fertility, and parenting challenges.
- Held: June 28, 2025, 10 AM-6 PM
- Location: Equals, Amsterdam
You can see what it covered in the handout, and keep an eye on our events calendar for the next edition or other events around Amsterdam.
Why Mamamaria
Parenting is deeply personal, and so is my approach. I blend psychology, Aware Parenting principles, spirituality, neurobiology, and good old-fashioned humor into a holistic, non-judgmental space for learning and growth. Three things set it apart:
- I’ve been there. I know what it’s like to feel overwhelmed, unprepared, and out of your depth. My goal is to meet you with compassion, not judgment.
- Progress, not perfection. Let’s ditch the unrealistic standards and focus on what matters: connection, awareness, and growth.
- Holistic approach. Parenting isn’t about “fixing” kids, it’s about healing ourselves, breaking cycles, and building relationships based on love and trust.
Let’s transform parenting together
Parenting is hard, but you don’t have to do it alone. Looking for a quick solution, long-term coaching, or a community of parents figuring this out alongside you, Mamamaria is there for all of it.
Visit the Mamamaria website or follow on Instagram to explore the services, sign up for a course, or book a consultation.
New to family life in the city? Start with our guide to spending a weekend in Amsterdam with kids, and check our parenting guides for more on day-to-day family life here. And if you run a family-focused business of your own, you can get listed on Amsterdam Kids too.
