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’...
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Episodes
Why It’s So Hard to Stop Putting Yourself Last when Parenting Teens….and Even When You’re In the Empty Nest | Ep. 237
If you’re a mom who has spent years parenting teens and putting everyone else first, you might expect that once your kids grow up and you find yourself in the empty nest, life will finally open up for you. But many...
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“I Only Have a Few Months Left with My Big Kid at Home”—Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens and Adult Kids are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 236
If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “I only have a few months left before my kid leaves home,” you’re not alone. I remember thinking this constantly during my boys’ senior years of high school. As moms raising...
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Mindset Traps of Parenting Teens and the Empty Nest—Trap #7: Catastrophizing. Letting Go of Anxiety and the Worst Case Scenario Spiral | Ep. 235
Have you ever woken up at 2am with your mind racing…convinced that the distance between you and your child means the relationship is slipping away… or that their struggle is going to define their future… or that the...
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“Other Moms Are Closer to their Big Kids”—Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens and Adult Kids Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 234
Have you ever caught yourself thinking, other moms seem closer to their kids than I am?
As moms, we care deeply about our relationships with our kids. When they pull away, we can feel anxious, rejected, or even...
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Parenting Teens and Adult Kids: Why Your Boundaries Aren't Working, and What Actually Does | Ep. 233
Have you ever walked away from a conversation with your teen or adult kid thinking, “I need to set a boundary here.” You’re tired of the disrespect. You’re so done with reminding them. You want to see progress and you...
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“I Don’t Know Who I Am If I’m Not a Mom”—Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens and Adult Kids are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 232
Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I don’t know who I am if I’m not a mom.”
When your days have revolved around motherhood for decades, letting go can feel disorienting. The quiet house leaves space not just for...
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Parenting Teens Through Mental Health Struggles: Learning to Let Go Without Losing Yourself | Ep. 231
Do you have a big kid who’s struggling with their mental health… and find yourself lying awake at night wondering if you’re doing enough?
When your child isn’t okay, it doesn’t just worry you, it can take over. Your...
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“I Feel Like I’m Walking on Eggshells with my Big Kid”—Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens and Adult Kids are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 230
Have you ever felt tense in your own home… bracing for the sound of your teen’s footsteps or the tone of their voice? As moms parenting teens, this is one of the thoughts we’re often ashamed to admit: I feel like I’m...
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Who Is Your Mom 2.0? Being the Mom You Want to Be as you Parent Teens and Navigate the Empty Nest | Ep. 229
Do you ever feel like you know how you want to show up as a mom, and even as a woman in your own life, and still find yourself wondering why it feels so hard to actually show up that way? You know you want to be...
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“My Kid Was Struggling and I Missed It”—Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens and Adult Kids are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 228
My kid was struggling... and I didn’t even know it.
We spend so much of motherhood trying to keep our kids safe, happy, and successful. We set boundaries. We try to stay one step ahead. And yet… sometimes we still...
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Mindset Traps of Parenting Teens and the Empty Nest—Trap #6: Personalization—How To Stop Making Your Big Kid’s Experience About You | Ep. 227
Have you ever felt that knot in your stomach when your big kid seems off—and you immediately start wondering what you did wrong? This reaction doesn’t come from insecurity—it comes from love. Especially in this stage...
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"I'm Relieved When My Big Kid Isn't Home" —Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens and Adult Kids Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 226
Have you ever felt a sense of relief when your big kid leaves the house, and then felt terrible for feeling that way? In this episode, I explore the thought, “I'm relieved when my kid isn’t home.” If you’ve ever...
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