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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:

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.

Relationship Goals with Your Teen — A Mom’s Guide to Parenting Teens Without Losing the Relationship | Ep. 86 Jan 27, 2024

Show notes

The older my kids get, the more I realize: parenting isn’t about control—it’s about connection. But that’s so much easier said than done, especially when your teen is pulling away or making choices you don’t understand. In this episode, I share what it means to set real relationship goals with our kids—not based on fear, guilt, or perfection, but on empathy, trust, and presence. You’ll hear how I’ve learned to move from reactivity to regulation, from fixing to guiding, and how to stay rooted in the kind of connection that lasts long after they’ve left home. If you're navigating the messy middle of motherhood and want to rebuild or protect your relationship with your teen, this episode will help you find your way back.

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 Empty Nest Straddle — The Emotional Tug of Parenting Teens and Facing the Empty Nest| Ep. 85 Jan 20, 2024

Show notes

There’s a moment in motherhood that no one prepares you for—the one where your child is pulling away, and every instinct tells you to hold on. In this episode, I talk about what I call the Empty Nest Straddle—that emotional space between still feeling responsible for your teen and realizing they’re stepping into their own life. It’s a tug-of-war between purpose and powerlessness, love and letting go. I share my own story, the guilt, the control, the fears—and what it took for me to begin releasing my grip and creating a new identity as a mom. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Who am I if they don’t need me anymore?”—this one’s 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.

Habit Goals That Actually Stick — A Mindset Shift for Midlife Moms Craving Peace, Purpose, and Self-Trust | Ep. 84 Jan 13, 2024

Show notes

I used to think that setting goals meant pushing harder—doing more, fixing myself, keeping up. But all that hustle left me feeling more overwhelmed, not more fulfilled. In this episode, I share a new way to think about habit goals—especially for moms navigating the teen years and the emotional shift of the empty nest. You’ll learn how to set goals from a place of self-awareness, peace, and purpose, not guilt or perfectionism. If you’re ready to feel more grounded, aligned, and confident in how you show up every day, this episode will help you start small, go deep, and build habits that actually feel like 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.

Redefining Body Goals for Moms in Midlife — Why Mindset, Not Willpower, Changes Everything | Ep. 83 Jan 06, 2024

Show notes

I’ve set body goals for decades—but the real work wasn’t about finding the perfect plan. It was about rewriting the mindset that made me feel like I’d already failed. In this episode, I share what finally helped me break free from the guilt, overthinking, and “all or nothing” mentality that so many of us moms carry when it comes to weight, exercise, and self-image. If you’ve ever felt defeated before you even began, or sabotaged your goals out of frustration or shame, this episode will show you a different way. One that starts with self-love, curiosity, and a belief that you can trust yourself 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.

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