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
Debunking the Empty Nest Syndrome — Letting Go of the Guilt and Finding Yourself Again | Ep. 92
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...
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Embracing Mindset Traps — A New Way to Understand Guilt, Anxiety, and the Emotional Chaos of Motherhood | Ep. 91
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...
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Illusion of Control — The Trap that Keeps Moms Frustrated and Exhausted — Mindset Trap #14 | Ep. 90
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...
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Overgeneralization — The Trap That Turns One Bad Moment Into a Story About Everything — Mindset Trap #13 | Ep. 89 | Ep. 89
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...
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Finding True Love Again — A Midlife Mom’s Journey to Self-Worth, Connection, and Letting Go of Validation | Ep. 88
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...
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Rebuilding Friendship — A Midlife Mom’s Guide to Connection, Vulnerability, and Letting Go of What Doesn’t Fit | Ep. 87
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...
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Relationship Goals with Your Teen — A Mom’s Guide to Parenting Teens Without Losing the Relationship | Ep. 86
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...
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The Empty Nest Straddle — The Emotional Tug of Parenting Teens and Facing the Empty Nest| Ep. 85
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...
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Habit Goals That Actually Stick — A Mindset Shift for Midlife Moms Craving Peace, Purpose, and Self-Trust | Ep. 84
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...
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Redefining Body Goals for Moms in Midlife — Why Mindset, Not Willpower, Changes Everything | Ep. 83
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...
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Redefining Resolutions — A Midlife Mom’s Guide to Becoming Who You’re Meant to Be | Ep. 82
This isn’t your typical New Year’s pep talk. I’m not giving you a checklist or another resolution to chase. In this episode, I share the truth I’ve lived into this past year: that the most powerful change we can make...
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The 12 Holiday Mindset Traps — Why Moms of Teens Feel So Much Pressure This Season | Ep. 81
The holidays are supposed to be magical—but if you’re anything like me, you’re feeling more stress, anxiety, and guilt than peace and joy. In this episode, I walk through the 12 mindset traps that sneak up on us this...
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