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
Redefining Success as a Mom — A Mindset Shift for Parenting Teens and Letting Go | Ep. 63
If success as a mom isn’t about perfect grades, college acceptances, or constant hugs and thank-yous, then what is it really about?
In this episode, I dig deep into the emotional and mindset shift so many of us face...
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Lifelong Connection in Motherhood with Your Big Kids - Special Guest Esther Joy Goetz | Ep. 62
I was honored to have author, influencer, connector and founder of Moms of Bigs, Esther Joy Goetz join me to talk about the lifelong journey of being a mom and how to create a lifelong connection with your children....
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Letting Go of the Pressure to Make Everyone Happy — A Mindset Shift for Moms of Teens | Ep. 61
This episode came to life during a family vacation—what should’ve been a chance to unwind but turned into a mirror reflecting how hard I still am on myself, even in rest. As my oldest prepares to head off to college,...
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Letting Go on College Move-In Day — A Mindset Shift for Moms of Teens Stepping Into the Empty Nest | Ep. 60
College drop-off is coming, and the countdown has begun. Whether you're sending your first or your last off to school, this episode is about the tidal wave of emotions that comes with this milestone moment in...
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The Dream Teen Checklist: Special Group Coaching Edition | Ep. 59
Join me for a sneak peak into one of Small Jar's recent Group Coaching Workshops, where we explore the topic of relationships, particularly the dream relationship we want with our teenager. In coaching, almost any...
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The Problem with “Happy Thoughts” — Why Real Peace in Parenting Teens Starts with Emotional Honesty | Ep. 58
I used to believe that if I could just change my thoughts, I’d feel better—less anxious, more calm, more in control. But when life as a mom of teens started to feel like a constant emotional roller coaster, I...
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When the House Gets Quiet — Facing Loneliness and Reclaiming Yourself in the Empty Nest Years | Ep. 57
This episode came from a quiet moment on a family trip—my first without my boys. As I walked onto the ferry alone, I felt the full weight of what it means to be a mom in the teen and empty nest years. The emotional...
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What You Really Want — Letting Go of Control, Guilt, and Fear in Parenting Teens | Ep. 56
What do I really want as a mom? That question sounds simple, but it goes deep. I used to think that if I worked hard enough, tried my best, and followed the rules, I'd raise happy, successful kids and feel fulfilled...
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Redefining Your Purpose in the Empty Nest — A Mindset Shift for Moms Letting Go | Ep. 55
As my boys became more independent—first with driver’s licenses, then with dorm move-ins—I began to feel it: the empty spaces in our routine, in the house, and in myself. It wasn’t just the empty nest I was bracing...
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The Hidden Weight of Motherhood — How Resentment and Guilt Keep Moms Stuck | Ep. 54
Resentment is one of those emotions we don’t talk about—but most of us moms are carrying it. In this episode, I share how my own emotional habits—like reaching for wine or snacks to take the edge off—have been tied to...
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When Kids Return to the Nest — Letting Go, Setting Boundaries, and Parenting Adult Children Under One Roof | Ep. 53
When your teen or young adult returns home—whether for the summer, after graduation, or because life didn’t go as planned—it’s a mix of joy, tension, and everything in between. I created this episode for the moms who...
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Getting Your Teen to Listen — Letting Go of Control and Rebuilding Connection | Ep. 52
You’re not alone if it feels like your teen won’t listen to anything you say. I’ve been there—and so have most of the moms I coach. In this episode, I unpack why our usual parenting strategies often fail, even when we...
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