View Top 200 Chart

Back to Rankings Page

Kids & Family

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:

The Fix-It Mindset — How the Urge to Help Keeps Moms Anxious, Overwhelmed, and Emotionally Exhausted | Ep. 96 Apr 06, 2024

Show notes

Fixing things used to feel like love—jumping in to help, offering advice, smoothing the path so my teen wouldn’t struggle. But eventually, I realized all that fixing was costing me more than I thought. It left me anxious, overwhelmed, and disconnected—from myself and my teen. In this episode, I break down the Fix-It Mindset and why it’s so common for moms who care deeply. You’ll learn how this pattern creates emotional burnout and what it takes to step back, let go, and trust your teen’s growth without trying to control it. If you’re ready to shift from fixer to guide—and find more peace in the process—this is the episode for you.

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

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.

The Worry Mindset — How Overthinking, Uncertainty, and a Fear of Letting Go Keep Moms of Teens Stuck in Anxiety | Ep. 95 Mar 30, 2024

Show notes

Worry has always felt like part of motherhood—like proof that I care deeply and want to protect my teen. But over time, I started to see how that worry wasn’t keeping anyone safe; it was just keeping me stuck in overthinking and anxiety. In this episode, I dive into what I call the Worry Mindset: the mental patterns that drive our fear of the unknown, the urge to control, and the inability to let go. If you've ever felt powerless to stop spiraling or guilty for how much you care, this conversation will help you find a new way forward—one that honors your love and brings you peace.

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

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.

The Mindset Trap Primer — What Every Mom Needs to Know About the Mental Habits That Steal Your Peace | Ep. 94 Mar 23, 2024

Show notes

This season of motherhood is full of emotional whiplash—one moment I’m trying to guide my teen through college applications or mental health struggles, and the next I’m wondering who I even am outside of being a mom. In this episode, I introduce the mindset traps that keep so many of us stuck: overthinking, guilt, catastrophizing, trying to fix everything, and never feeling like enough. I’ll show you how your brain is wired to avoid emotional pain—but in the process, keeps you from living with peace, confidence, and clarity. If you’re caught in the chaos of parenting teens and preparing for the empty nest, this is where we begin to find your power again.

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

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.

I Am Enough — How Moms of Teens Can Stop Overthinking and Start Trusting Themselves Again | Ep. 93 Mar 16, 2024

Show notes

For years, I’ve chased the feeling that what I was doing as a mom was “enough.” That I was doing enough, giving enough, being enough. But no matter how much I checked off the list or how hard I tried, that whisper of doubt always returned. In this episode, I open up about the emotional weight we carry as moms of teens—the guilt, the fear, the comparison—and how it disconnects us from our own worth. I share the turning point that helped me begin to believe I am enough, and how you can too. If you’re caught in the constant push to prove your value, this episode is a reminder: your worth has never been up for debate.

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

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.

Debunking the Empty Nest Syndrome — Letting Go of the Guilt and Finding Yourself Again | Ep. 92 Mar 09, 2024

Show notes

They call it a “syndrome,” but what if there’s nothing wrong with you at all? As my teen prepared to leave, I started feeling that quiet ache—grief, confusion, even guilt for not handling it better. But then I started asking new questions: What if the empty nest isn’t a diagnosis? What if it’s not something to fix—but a moment to meet with compassion and self-trust? In this episode, I challenge the myth of empty nest syndrome and offer a mindset shift for moms like me who’ve given everything to parenting and are ready to reclaim their peace, purpose, and identity in this next chapter. Letting go doesn’t have to mean losing yourself—it can be the beginning of finding you again.

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

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.

Embracing Mindset Traps — A New Way to Understand Guilt, Anxiety, and the Emotional Chaos of Motherhood | Ep. 91 Mar 02, 2024

Show notes

Every time I spiraled in guilt, anxiety, or overthinking, I thought something was wrong with me. But what if these mindset traps aren’t flaws—they’re invitations? In this episode, I talk about the patterns that keep so many moms stuck during the teen and empty nest years, and how shifting your mindset doesn’t mean fixing yourself—it means understanding yourself. You’ll learn why these traps exist, how they protect you, and how to move through them with compassion instead of criticism. If you’re tired of feeling like you’re always doing it wrong, this is your permission to stop striving and start seeing your mindset with new eyes.

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

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.

Illusion of Control — The Trap that Keeps Moms Frustrated and Exhausted — Mindset Trap #14 | Ep. 90 Feb 24, 2024

Show notes

For a long time, I believed that if I just planned better, worried more, or tried harder, I could control the outcome—for me and for my kids. But that mindset didn’t lead to peace—it led to burnout. In this episode, I dive into one of the most powerful mindset traps moms face: the illusion of control. I’ll show you how this belief keeps you stuck in overthinking, anxiety, and constant emotional pressure—and how letting go of that illusion is actually the first step toward peace and trust. If you’re tired of trying to manage everything and still feeling like it’s never enough, this is the shift you’ve been looking for.

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

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.

Overgeneralization — The Trap That Turns One Bad Moment Into a Story About Everything — Mindset Trap #13 | Ep. 89 | Ep. 89 Feb 17, 2024

Show notes

It’s so easy to take a few moments of your teen’s behavior and make them mean everything — that they’ll always be anxious, unmotivated, disrespectful, or behind. I’ve done it, and I know how heavy those conclusions can feel. But what if those assumptions aren’t true? In this episode, I explore the mindset trap of overgeneralization — how it keeps moms stuck in frustration, disconnects us from our teens, and robs us of the confidence to create a fulfilling future of our own. When you learn to question those sweeping conclusions, you open up the possibility for connection, empathy, and hope — for your child and for yourself.

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

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.

Finding True Love Again — A Midlife Mom’s Journey to Self-Worth, Connection, and Letting Go of Validation | Ep. 88 Feb 10, 2024

Show notes

Romantic love isn’t just about having a partner—it’s about the way we think about connection, worthiness, and what it means to matter. Whether you’re in a relationship, recovering from one, or wondering if you want one at all, this episode is a deep dive into the mindset behind love. I talk about why so many moms in the empty nest season feel lonely, disconnected, or even invisible—and how we sometimes expect others to fill emotional gaps we haven’t yet learned to fill ourselves. I’ll help you uncover what you really want from love and how to create more of it, starting with the most important relationship of all: the one you have with yourself.

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

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.

Rebuilding Friendship — A Midlife Mom’s Guide to Connection, Vulnerability, and Letting Go of What Doesn’t Fit | Ep. 87 Feb 03, 2024

Show notes

Friendship used to come easy—playdates, shared struggles, sideline chats. But somewhere in the chaos of raising teens and the quiet of the empty nest, I started to feel disconnected. From others. From myself. In this episode, I open up about what’s really happening beneath the surface when friendships shift or fade, why it feels so personal, and how to stop blaming yourself for the distance. You’ll hear how motherhood reshapes our needs for connection, how grief and growth often go hand in hand, and what it looks like to show up with honesty, vulnerability, and grace—for yourself and for your friendships. If you’re navigating that in-between space of letting go and longing for more, this is for you.

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

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.

Related Podcasts