The Almost Empty Nest—For Moms of Teens Redefining What “Letting Go” Really Means—with Small Jar Coach

The Almost Empty Nest—For Moms of Teens Redefining What “Letting Go” Really Means—with Small Jar Coach

Hosted by: Master Coach Jennifer Collins

Helping moms of teens and college kids set boundaries, release anxiety, and build connection—with your big kid and yourself—so you can feel calm, confident and fulfilled in this season of motherhood.

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Episodes

You Don't Have to Let Go of Summer Expectations with Your Teen | Ep. 158

If you pictured summer with your teen feeling relaxing, connected, maybe even joyful—but instead, you’re staring at a messy house, unpredictable schedules, and feeling more frustration than peace—you’re not alone. In...
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The Identity Crisis: Letting Go, Finding Purpose, and Redefining Who You Are As Your Teens Grow Up - Trap #10 | Ep. 157

There was a moment—standing in my kitchen, alone on a Saturday while my kids were out living their lives—when I asked myself, “Is this it? Who am I now?” In this episode, I’m talking about the identity crisis so many...
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What I've Learned About Letting Go as a Mom of Teens - The Last Graduation | Ep. 156

There’s a moment when it hits you: this is the last time. The last prom. The last school lunch. The last graduation day. And it’s not just about your teen moving on — it’s about everything this moment brings up for...
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The Validation Trap: Why Moms of Teens Feel Anxious and Unappreciated | Mindset Trap #9 | Ep. 155

If you’re a mom of teens and you’ve ever found yourself feeling anxious, overthinking, or just wondering why doesn’t anyone notice everything I do?—this episode is for you. In this next part of the Mindset Traps of...
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Why Moms of Teens Need to Stop Waiting to Be Celebrated — Especially in the Almost Empty Nest Years | Ep. 154

Mother’s Day hasn’t always felt the way I thought it would — especially as a mom of teenagers. I spent years waiting to be celebrated, managing my mindset around disappointment, and wondering if anyone really saw...
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The "Should Trap": Trap: When Moms of Teens Feel Like They’re Failing (Even When They’re Not) | Mindset Trap #8 | Ep. 153

If you’re a mom of a teen and you ever find yourself thinking, “I should be more patient... I should give them more space… I should have done something differently,” this episode is for you. In this week’s episode of...
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The Real Reason Boundaries Feel So Hard for Moms of Teens | Ep. 152

In today’s episode, I’m getting real about one of the hardest parts of raising teens—setting boundaries. Not boundaries to control your teen or fix their behavior—but boundaries that reconnect you to your own peace,...
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The Worst-Case Scenario Trap: Anxiety, Teens, and the Empty Nest Spiral | Mindset Trap #7 | Ep. 151

We’re continuing the Empty Nest Mindset Trap series this week with one of the most common and exhausting patterns I see in anxious moms: worst-case scenario thinking. Maybe your teen’s been struggling in school for a...
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The Fear of Failing Your Teen - A College Decision Wake-Up Call for Anxious Moms | Ep. 150

This episode is for every anxious, almost empty nest mom whose heart is tangled up in her teen’s future. Whether you're in the thick of college admissions or simply watching your child make choices that feel...
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The Guilt That Keeps You Stuck as an Almost Empty Nest Mom | Mindset Trap #6 | Ep. 149

MINDSET TRAPS OF THE EMPTY NEST - Trap #6 - Personalization Ever feel like your teen’s bad mood is somehow your fault? In this episode of The Almost Empty Nest Podcast, I’m diving deep into one of the most painful and...
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When Your Teen Starts Pulling Away: How to Let Go without Losing Connection | Ep. 148

Have you ever felt like you're living in two worlds at once—still deep in the trenches of motherhood while also staring down an almost-empty nest? I know I have. In this episode, I dive into what I call the Empty Nest...
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When Being A Good Mom Still Feels Like It's Not Enough | Mindset Trap #5 | Ep. 147

MINDSET TRAPS OF THE EMPTY NEST - Trap #5 - Perfectionism In this episode, I’m digging into one of the most exhausting and invisible traps so many of us fall into—perfectionism. You might think you're just trying to...
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