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:

When Your Best Isn't Good Enough | Ep. 16 Jun 02, 2022

Show notes

Have you ever found yourself saying, “I am literally doing the best I can….and it’s not enough.” We are trying our best. We have the best intentions. We think we have done everything that we could have done. And yet…things go wrong. Our kids get into trouble. People get angry at us. We disappoint ourselves...

In this episode we explore feelings of powerlessness related to things that have happened in the past that make us feel frustrated, guilty, and even ashamed. These emotions can feel overwhelming and leave us feeling powerless because we can’t change the past or change people’s minds right away…so we are powerless to feel better.

When things go wrong, you get to decide what you want to make them mean. You can't change the past but beating yourself up about it doesn’t move you forward.

In every moment you have an opportunity to ask yourself…. now what? What’s done is done…. I can’t change the past, I can’t change how other people think or what they do….but I CAN decide how I want to show up in the present moment.

Maybe after listening you can decide, for yourself…. that all of it….is good enough.

🎯 Want to take this work deeper? Save your seat for the next free masterclass—click here to sign up: 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.

Powerlessness. When Your Child Pulls Away. | Ep. 15 May 15, 2022

Show notes

As we watch our children grow up, we experience so many beautiful emotions. But we can also experience a wide range of challenging emotions—like worry, fear, anxiety, and frustration. When we worry or feel fear, we are typically imagining a negative future outcome that we want to avoid. And when we feel frustration—we are typically looking at a situation and thinking of all of the ways it should be different.

And when we feel this way, we try to control our children. We try to convince them they’re wrong. That they need to try a little harder. That they need to listen to our advice. But we rarely win. And we are left feeling powerless. And in pain. Constantly worried. We are literally powerless to end our own pain because we are projecting their pain in the future. It’s insanity, but we do it to ourselves time and time again. The only way to feel better is to change them—but we can’t change them, so we don’t feel better.

In this episode, we explore how to find the power to feel better without having to change our children.

🎯 Want to take this work deeper? Save your seat for the next free masterclass—click here to sign up: 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.

Mom, CEO of Home Inc. | Ep. 14 May 07, 2022

Show notes

Moms are the CEO of Home Inc.

Now, I want to be clear…I’m not saying this to be cute or cheeky. I certainly do not want to in any way come across as belittling stay-at-home moms. In fact, I believe that being a stay-at-home mom is a full-time (or more than full-time) job for which we are not paid. Although I am sure we as mothers could all agree that raising a family is important work, we sometimes tend to discount the work in our minds because it’s not quote/unquote “professional.”

In this episode we explore the traits that both successful CEOs and moms share. I am willing to bet that many of these 10 traits, you practice regularly as a mom. We don’t consider that these skills make us professionals….by the way, synonyms for “professional” include – expert, skilled, practiced, qualified, proficient….add to this mix loving, unconditional, loyal, dedicated, and unwavering…that’s a pretty powerful combination.

🎯 Want to take this work deeper? Save your seat for the next free masterclass—click here to sign up: 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 You’re So Hard on Yourself — A Mindset Shift for Moms Letting Go of Judgment | Ep. 13 May 01, 2022

Show notes

Previously the Small Jar Podcast

So many moms—especially those parenting teens—get stuck in a painful cycle of self-judgment, overthinking, and constantly feeling like we're not enough. In this episode, I reflect on how easily we fall into negative narratives about ourselves—our bodies, our parenting, our worth—and how deeply those beliefs affect our mindset, emotional regulation, and daily lives.

If you’ve ever told yourself, “I should be better, thinner, calmer, more patient, more successful…” or questioned your worth based on your teen’s behavior, you are not alone. We dig into the internalized stories that shape how we see ourselves in motherhood and beyond—and explore how to shift from judgment to self-compassion, confidence, and truth.

In this episode, I talk about:

How ancient brain wiring fuels our fears of failure and rejection
The invisible standards we try to meet as moms—and how they keep us stuck
Why letting go of perfection doesn’t mean giving up

You’ll leave this episode with powerful questions to help challenge your inner critic and reclaim a mindset grounded in self-love, emotional clarity, and the confidence to show up as you are. Let’s stop holding ourselves hostage to imaginary expectations and start embracing who we truly are.

🎯 Want to take this work deeper? Save your seat for the next free masterclass—click here to sign up: 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.

When Your Teen Won’t Listen — A Mindset Shift for Moms Struggling to Stay Calm | Ep. 12 Apr 17, 2022

Show notes

Previously the Small Jar Podcast

Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “If they would just do what I want…” Whether it's your teen, your partner, or even a colleague, it's easy to believe our frustration is caused by their refusal to cooperate. In this episode, I dive into one of the most common mindset traps for moms of teens: believing our emotional peace depends on others changing.

I explore real-life scenarios—from workplace dynamics to intense conversations with your teenager—and show how our expectations often create stress, anxiety, and resentment. As moms, we want our kids to be safe, successful, and happy. But that desire often turns into overthinking, control, and the urge to "fix" their choices.

We'll talk about:

How to let go of your emotional dependence on others doing what you expect
How to respond with curiosity and calm, not anger or guilt
Why setting healthy boundaries—internally and externally—can restore your peace

If you're navigating the emotional rollercoaster of parenting teens or adjusting to the empty nest years, this episode will help you shift your mindset, release unnecessary pain, and reclaim your confidence, connection, and clarity.

🎯 Want to take this work deeper? Save your seat for the next free masterclass—click here to sign up: 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.

Having It All Is a Myth... Or Is It? A Mindset Shift for Moms in Midlife | Ep. 11 Apr 10, 2022

Show notes

Previously the Small Jar Podcast

This episode is deeply personal and provocative—because it’s about the question so many moms ask themselves: Can I really have it all? As a mom, professional, and woman in midlife, I reflect on the career decisions, mindset traps, and societal narratives that shaped my path—and challenge the belief that we can’t pursue purpose, parenting, and peace simultaneously.

Whether you’re a mom of teens, navigating college transitions, or stepping into the empty nest, you might feel caught between guilt, ambition, and the desire to reclaim yourself. We unpack the emotional toll of parenting, the pressure to always “do more,” and the mindset that keeps many of us stuck in cycles of overthinking, resentment, and self-doubt.

In this episode, I’ll guide you to:

Rethink what “having it all” really means
Let go of old beliefs about motherhood, success, and self-worth
Understand the impact of emotional regulation and mindset on your choices

This is about finding the courage to redefine fulfillment on your own terms—and taking back authorship of your story. If you’ve ever wrestled with guilt, anxiety, or the quiet ache of lost purpose, this episode offers reflection and hope for what comes next.

🎯 Want to take this work deeper? Save your seat for the next free masterclass—click here to sign up: 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.

Stop Chasing Happiness — How Moms of Teens Can Find Joy in the Present | Ep. 10 Apr 04, 2022

Show notes

Previously the Small Jar Podcast

As moms of teens, we often chase happiness through perfect vacations, ideal family moments, or dreams of life after the kids leave home. But even on a picture-perfect trip to paradise, I realized something powerful: happiness isn’t found in the perfect plan—it’s created by how we think.

In this episode, I share what a family trip to the British Virgin Islands taught me about letting go of expectations, the emotional traps we fall into, and how to find peace right where we are. If you’ve ever thought “I’ll be happy when…”—when your teen talks to you, when the stress lets up, when you finally get a break—this conversation will hit home.

We’ll explore:

Why your mindset matters more than your circumstances
How to let go of emotional pressure and be more present with your family
What it really means to create joy in motherhood—even in the chaos

This episode will help you stop waiting for everything to be perfect and start creating a calm, connected, and more fulfilling experience right now.

🎯 Want to take this work deeper? Save your seat for the next free masterclass—click here to sign up: 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.

Hidden Ways Moms of Teens Waste Time—You Don’t Have to Do It All | Ep. 9 Mar 23, 2022

Show notes

Previously the Small Jar Podcast

If you’re a mom who feels like there’s never enough time—and that no matter how much you do, it’s never enough—this episode is for you. I dive into how our mindset around time is often shaped by overthinking, guilt, and the pressure to be everything for everyone. The result? Anxiety, burnout, and a deep disconnection from your own purpose.

In this episode, we explore:

How to let go of unrealistic expectations and create emotional space for what truly matters
The role of emotional regulation in how you manage your time and your energy
Why setting boundaries with your schedule is essential for clarity and peace

You’ll hear how I shifted from frantic mornings and endless to-do lists to a more grounded approach that prioritizes presence, clarity, and calm. This isn't about time hacks—it’s about redefining your relationship with time so you can stop feeling behind and start feeling aligned.

If you’re ready to stop overthinking your days and start living with more intention, confidence, and fulfillment, this episode will guide you there—one grounded moment at a time.

🎯 Want to take this work deeper? Save your seat for the next free masterclass—click here to sign up: 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 Bad Habits Are So Hard to Break — A Mindset Shift for Moms Raising Teens | Ep. 8 Mar 13, 2022

Show notes

Previously the Small Jar Podcast

If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in a habit you know isn’t serving you—but you can’t seem to break it—you’re not alone. In this episode, I dive into the neuroscience behind why we do what we do (even when we don’t want to), and how that knowledge can empower us to make lasting change.

This one’s especially for moms of teens and those entering the empty nest years who are trying to let go of patterns that no longer align with who they want to be. Whether it’s nightly wine, scrolling, or emotional eating, we explore how our emotional regulation, mindset, and nervous system play a huge role in why we stay stuck—and how we can set ourselves free.

You’ll learn:

How dopamine drives behavior (and what to do about it)
The surprising reason willpower fails us
Why bad habits often solve an emotional problem
How to let go of guilt and shame and set more compassionate boundaries with yourself
How to shift your mindset and take small steps toward peace, clarity, and purpose

Let’s stop beating ourselves up and start understanding what’s really going on beneath our habits—so we can reclaim joy, presence, and confidence in this evolving season of motherhood.

🎯 Want to take this work deeper? Save your seat for the next free masterclass—click here to sign up: 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.

Rediscovering Who You Are as Your Teen Grows Up as a Midlife Mom - Part II | Ep. 7 Mar 06, 2022

Show notes

Previously the Small Jar Podcast

If you’ve ever felt stuck—unsure how to move forward or even what you want next—this episode is for you. As moms of teens and college kids, we spend so much time supporting everyone else that we forget to ask ourselves what we want. And when we finally do? The self-doubt, guilt, and anxiety creep in fast.

In this follow-up to last week’s episode, I dive deeper into why pursuing your dreams isn’t about having the perfect plan—it’s about shifting your mindset, letting go of old beliefs, and choosing to believe in you.

We’ll talk about:

How our emotional habits—like overthinking, perfectionism, and resentment—keep us stuck
Why letting go of control is the first step toward confidence
The impact of boundaries—not just with others, but with your own inner critic
How to reconnect with your purpose and identity in a season where motherhood is shifting
And why your next chapter can feel both scary and exciting—and that’s okay

This episode will help you stop waiting for clarity and start creating it. You don’t need permission, a step-by-step plan, or anyone’s approval. You just need to remember that your emotional well-being, fulfillment, and growth matter too.

Let’s break free of the mental traps and build a future rooted in calm, confidence, and possibility.

🎯 Want to take this work deeper? Save your seat for the next free masterclass—click here to sign up: 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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