The Almost Empty Nest—Letting Go, Redefined: Parenting Teens and Finding Yourself Again—with Small Jar Coach

Are you stuck between wanting to guide your teen or college kid and knowing it’s time to start letting go?

Welcome to The Almost Empty Nest Podcast, where moms of teens and college kids reframe what ‘letting go’ really means and stop second-guessing themselves to feel more connected, confident, and at peace in this chapter of motherhood.

Each week, you’ll learn how to:
• Break free from mindset traps like catastrophizing, mom guilt, and the illusion of control
• Build a stronger relationship with your teen—even when they pull away or test boundaries
• Strengthen your self-trust as you set boundaries, let go of anxiety, and explore your own purpose beyond parenting

Hosted by master life coach—and mom of two college kids—Jennifer Collins, this show offers grounded, relatable support and mindset shifts to help you stop overthinking and start showing up as the mom and woman you truly want to be.

🎧 Start with listener favorite Episode 85: The Empty Nest Straddle — The Emotional Tug of Parenting Teens and Facing the Empty Nest.

Latest Episodes:

“I Don't Know How”—Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 176 Aug 20, 2025

Show notes

Ever found yourself thinking, “I don’t know how”—how to connect with your teen, how to let go, or how to figure out what comes next?

In this episode, I unpack the thought so many moms of teens and almost empty nesters are ashamed to admit. I explore why not knowing feels so personal, how it fuels anxiety, shame, and overthinking, and what it might look like to stay present—even when you don’t have a plan.

You’ll walk away with:

A new perspective on why “I don’t know how” feels so heavy—and how it quietly shapes your decisions
Real-life examples of how this thought shows up in parenting, purpose, and your relationship with yourself
Powerful questions to shift from needing certainty to exploring what’s actually possible

You’ve done hard things without knowing how before. So has your teen. What if this next chapter didn’t require certainty—just curiosity and a willingness to begin?

💡 Interested in learning more about how to create peace, confidence and connection as you raise and launch your teen, join me for my next free masterclass: https://www.thesmalljar.com/class

💪 Curious about coaching with Small Jar? Check out our Mom 2.0 coaching program: www.thesmalljar.com/Mom-2-0

❓ Have questions or want to share your feedback? I'd love to hear from you! You can email me at jennifer@thesmalljar.com.

This empowering podcast offers life coaching for moms and parenting support for midlife mothers raising teens as they approach the empty nest, teaching them how to let go of control, stop overthinking, and shift their mindset, while also helping them set boundaries, improve communication, reduce anxiety, release mom guilt, and find purpose in the evolving journey of parenting teens and motherhood.

Rebuild Trust with Your Teen — Letting Go Without Losing Connection | Ep. 175 Aug 16, 2025

Show notes

Have you ever said, “I just don’t trust my teen right now”—or felt the hurt of realizing that somehow your child doesn't trust you?

For us moms navigating parenting teens and the road to the empty nest, it's amazing how complicated trust can become. We want to stay close. We want open conversations and honest connection. But instead, it can feel like our teens are pulling away, testing boundaries, and tearing down the trust we feel we deserve and desperately want to create. In this episode, I’m exploring why rebuilding trust with your teen or college-aged child can feel so hard—and what it really takes to build it back up again. I’ll walk you through the invisible mindset trap so many moms fall into when it comes to trust, boundaries, and letting go. We’ll talk about why trust starts to feel like a test—and what it means to go first in building the relationship you want.

If you're in the thick of motherhood, overthinking everything, anxious about the distance growing between you and your child, or unsure how to rebuild the closeness you used to feel—this episode will help you see that you’re not powerless. And you’re not alone.

Because trust isn’t something you wait for—it’s something you create.

💡 Interested in learning more about how to create peace, confidence and connection as you raise and launch your teen, join me for my next free masterclass: https://www.thesmalljar.com/class

💪 Curious about coaching with Small Jar? Check out our Mom 2.0 coaching program: www.thesmalljar.com/Mom-2-0

❓ Have questions or want to share your feedback? I'd love to hear from you! You can email me at jennifer@thesmalljar.com.

“Nobody Listens to Me”—Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 174 Aug 13, 2025

Show notes

Have you ever found yourself thinking, “No one listens to me”? Maybe after your teen ignores your request, brushes off your advice, or doesn’t reply to your text. You’re not just frustrated—you’re hurt. And from this place, you start questioning yourself, wondering if you’re doing something wrong, or if you’ve somehow lost your place in your kid's life. What so many of us also do when we feel unheard and unseen is that we try even harder to be heard. But more effort doesn’t always lead to more connection.

In this episode, I unpack the hidden layers underneath the thought “No one listens to me.”
We’ll look at:

The emotional weight of being ignored—and why it feels so personal
How to shift from trying to get your teen to respond, to showing up with confidence even when they don’t
Why letting go doesn’t mean giving up

If you’re a mom of a teen or college kid feeling dismissed, unseen, or unsure how to hold boundaries without losing your mind, this episode is for you.

💡 Interested in learning more about how to create peace, confidence and connection as you raise and launch your teen, join me for my next free masterclass: https://www.thesmalljar.com/class

💪 Curious about coaching with Small Jar? Check out our Mom 2.0 coaching program: www.thesmalljar.com/Mom-2-0

❓ Have questions or want to share your feedback? I'd love to hear from you! You can email me at jennifer@thesmalljar.com.

I Don’t Want to Miss This—Staying Present in Ups and Downs of Raising Teens and the Empty Nest | Ep. 173 Aug 09, 2025

Show notes

Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I want to enjoy this, but it’s just not going how I hoped”—whether it’s a family dinner your teen bails on or the quiet ache of the empty nest creeping in before it’s even here?

In this episode, I explore what it really means to be present in your life—especially during the messy, emotional seasons of parenting teens and letting go. As a mom, it’s so easy to miss the moment you’re in—not because it’s gone, but because your mind is already spinning with frustration, disappointment, or fear about what’s coming next.

We often think presence is about savoring the good moments, but what if it’s really about how we show up when things don’t go the way we imagined?

I’ll walk you through how mindset plays a powerful role in helping you stay grounded, why resisting reality only makes things harder, and how to hold space for your feelings without letting them take over.

You’ll hear the story of a client who anchored herself in the mindset “I don’t want to miss this,” and how that intention helped her stay centered—not because everything went perfectly, but because she was clear on how she wanted to feel.

By the end, you’ll have a new way to approach your own life—whether you’re navigating distance with your teen or facing the transition of the empty nest—with more clarity, more presence, and more peace.

Let’s stop missing this stage of motherhood and our lives.

💡 Interested in learning more about how to create peace, confidence and connection as you raise and launch your teen, join me for my next free masterclass: https://www.thesmalljar.com/class

💪 Curious about coaching with Small Jar? Check out our Mom 2.0 coaching program: www.thesmalljar.com/Mom-2-0

❓ Have questions or want to share your feedback? I'd love to hear from you! You can email me at jennifer@thesmalljar.com.

“I'm Not a Confident Person”—Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 172 Aug 06, 2025

Show notes

Have you ever found yourself thinking, “I’m just not a confident person”?

Maybe you think it when you try to set a boundary and back down, or when you imagine starting something new in your next chapter but instantly feel overwhelmed. In this episode, I’m unpacking the belief so many moms carry: that they lack confidence. Whether you're parenting teens, facing the uncertainty of the empty nest, or trying to figure out what's next for you—you may be interpreting normal uncertainty and self-doubt as proof that something is wrong with you.

It’s not.

In this episode, we'll talk about:

The mindset trap that makes us moms feel like we've lost our confidence.
How this trap keeps you stuck in overthinking, second-guessing, and playing small.
And why your anxiety isn’t a personality flaw—but a signal worth listening to in a new way.

This isn’t about “becoming” a confident person. It’s about understanding how to reclaim your ability to lead your life—on your terms.

💡 Interested in learning more about how to create peace, confidence and connection as you raise and launch your teen, join me for my next free masterclass: https://www.thesmalljar.com/class

💪 Curious about coaching with Small Jar? Check out our Mom 2.0 coaching program: www.thesmalljar.com/Mom-2-0

❓ Have questions or want to share your feedback? I'd love to hear from you! You can email me at jennifer@thesmalljar.com.

Navigating College Drop-Off—Six Mindset Shifts for Moms Launching Teens | Ep. 171 Aug 02, 2025

Show notes

✨ What if the hardest part of college move-in day isn’t the goodbye—but the story you’re telling yourself about it?

College drop-off is supposed to be a milestone moment. But if you're anything like me, the emotions can catch you off guard—especially when you're doing everything you can to hold it together. In this episode, I’m sharing the six most common beliefs that shape how we experience college drop-off—and why they leave so many of us moms feeling anxious and guilty.

These beliefs are subtle. They sound like love. But they’re often rooted in fear. And when you can spot the mindset traps underneath—like personalization and worst-case thinking—you’ll discover a whole new way to show up for this transition.

🎧 Here’s what you’ll take away:

One simple, powerful question that helps you feel more grounded—even when you're overwhelmed.
A new way to understand your role as a mom when your kid no longer lives under your roof.
Permission to feel everything you’re feeling… without making it mean you’ve done something wrong.

Whether this is your first college move-in or your fifth, this episode is an invitation to stop judging your emotions and start trusting yourself more deeply.

💡 Interested in learning more about how to create peace, confidence and connection as you raise and launch your teen, join me for my next free masterclass: https://www.thesmalljar.com/class

💪 Curious about coaching with Small Jar? Check out our Mom 2.0 coaching program: www.thesmalljar.com/Mom-2-0

❓ Have questions or want to share your feedback? I'd love to hear from you! You can email me at jennifer@thesmalljar.com.

“My Teen Is Lazy”—Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 170 Jul 30, 2025

Show notes

Have you ever looked at your teen—ignoring chores, blowing off school, stuck to a screen—and thought, “Why don’t they care?” Maybe you’ve even said: “They’re so lazy.”

It’s not that you want to judge them. It’s that you’re worried.
Worried that they’re falling behind.
That they don’t seem to have drive or direction.
That you’ve somehow missed your window to teach them how to be responsible.

In this episode, I’m unpacking the thought “my teen is lazy”—and what’s really going on underneath it. You’ll learn:

Why this thought often leads to disconnection instead of motivation
What shifts when you stop trying to fix your teen and start focusing on the influence you do have
How to set boundaries and expectations from a place of love—not fear

And I’ll leave you with one powerful question that can shift the way you approach these moments, and your relationship with your teen. If you’ve been stuck in the cycle of nagging, resentment, or worry—this episode will help you step into a calmer, more grounded version of yourself.

💡 Interested in learning more about how to create peace, confidence and connection as you raise and launch your teen, join me for my next free masterclass: https://www.thesmalljar.com/class

💪 Curious about coaching with Small Jar? Check out our Mom 2.0 coaching program: www.thesmalljar.com/Mom-2-0

❓ Have questions or want to share your feedback? I'd love to hear from you! You can email me at jennifer@thesmalljar.com.

Why Vacation Feels So Hard for Moms of Teens—And What Lets You Reconnect | Ep. 169 Jul 26, 2025

Show notes

Why does something that’s supposed to be fun feel so hard?

You plan the vacation hoping for rest, reconnection, maybe even a few magical moments. But instead, you find yourself wondering if your teen even wants to be there. If you’ve ever come home from a family trip more drained than when you left—this episode is for you.

In this conversation, I’m unpacking the real reasons vacation with teens and young adults feels so emotionally charged, especially for moms parenting teens or college kids. You’ll discover:

The four hidden reasons vacation feels so hard in this stage of motherhood
How unspoken expectations shape your entire experience
A mindset shift that helps you reconnect—without needing your teen to change

Because while we can’t script how our kids show up, we can decide how we want to respond.
And sometimes, the connection we’re craving is closer than it seems.

💡 Interested in learning more about how to create peace, confidence and connection as you raise and launch your teen, join me for my next free masterclass: https://www.thesmalljar.com/class

💪 Curious about coaching with Small Jar? Check out our Mom 2.0 coaching program: www.thesmalljar.com/Mom-2-0

❓ Have questions or want to share your feedback? I'd love to hear from you! You can email me at jennifer@thesmalljar.com.

“I'm Just a Mom”—Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 168 Jul 23, 2025

Show notes

Have you ever found yourself saying, “I’m just a mom”?

Maybe you wouldn’t say this out loud. The "just" a mom. Because you’re proud of being a mom. You love your kids more than anything. And yet… you can feel this ache and uncertainty when your kids don’t need you the same way anymore. You feel a sense of emptiness. Wondering who you are now.

In today’s episode, I’m exploring the thought “I’m just a mom” to help you uncover the deeper fears and grief that often hide beneath it, understand how mindset traps like the identity crisis and comparison feed shame and self-doubt, and begin to reclaim your worth beyond motherhood — so you can rewrite who you want to be in this next chapter, on your own terms.

If you’ve ever looked around and wondered why everyone else seems to have it figured out… or felt like you missed your chance to create something for yourself… you are not alone. And you haven’t done anything wrong.

This episode is your reminder: You are not just a mom.

💡 Interested in learning more about how to create peace, confidence and connection as you raise and launch your teen, join me for my next free masterclass: https://www.thesmalljar.com/class

💪 Curious about coaching with Small Jar? Check out our Mom 2.0 coaching program: www.thesmalljar.com/Mom-2-0

❓ Have questions or want to share your feedback? I'd love to hear from you! You can email me at jennifer@thesmalljar.com.

Do Chores Really Make Kids More Successful When Parenting Teens? What the Research Says | Ep. 167 Jul 19, 2025

Show notes

Are you worried that your kid not doing their choices means they're never going to be responsible?

I saw a social media post referencing a Harvard study that claims that kids who do chores grow up to be more successful—and the minute I read it I thought, "But what happens if I can't get my kid to do chores?! The study seems to affirm our deepest sense of responsibility to help our kids be good people and prepare them for the real world. But if you’ve got a teen who refuses to empty the dishwasher or who never puts away their laundry, it can feel like you’re fighting a losing battle. And it’s easy to wonder—am I messing this up?

In this episode, I break down what the research actually says—and what it doesn’t. You’ll learn why chores alone don’t build long-term success, and how the pressure to enforce responsibility can push you and your teen further apart.

More importantly, I’ll show you what does work: how connection, trust, and emotional consistency are what truly help teens take ownership of their choices. And how shifting your own mindset can turn power struggles into opportunities for growth.

If you’ve been stuck in the cycle of nagging, second-guessing, or trying to “make” your teen responsible, this episode will help you refocus—not on the chore chart, but on the relationship that matters most.

💡 Interested in learning more about how to create peace, confidence and connection as you raise and launch your teen, join me for my next free masterclass: https://www.thesmalljar.com/class

💪 Curious about coaching with Small Jar? Check out our Mom 2.0 coaching program: www.thesmalljar.com/Mom-2-0

❓ Have questions or want to share your feedback? I'd love to hear from you! You can email me at jennifer@thesmalljar.com.

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