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
Mind Reading — The Mindset Trap That Fuels Guilt, Overthinking, and Disconnection for Moms of Teens | Ep. 80
As a mom of teens, I used to spend so much time trying to read between the lines—guessing what my kids were thinking, how they were feeling, and whether I’d done something wrong. It felt like I was constantly walking...
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Fear of the Unknown — The Mindset Trap That Keeps Moms Anxious and Stuck as They Launch Teens | Ep. 79 | Ep. 79
There’s a moment in motherhood when you look up and realize your teen is about to take flight—and suddenly, everything about the future feels uncertain. In this episode, I unpack the fear of the unknown, a powerful...
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Labeling — The Mindset Trap That Damages Connection and Shapes How Moms See Their Teens | Ep. 78
As moms of teens, it’s so easy to fall into the habit of labeling—our kids, our partners, even ourselves. We call them lazy, dramatic, gifted, or rebellious. We call ourselves anxious, stuck, impatient, or...
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The Holiday Overwhelm Moms of Teens Don’t Talk About — Part II | Ep. 77
We talk a lot about “being present,” especially during the holidays—but let’s be honest: as a mom of teens, sometimes the present moment feels more frustrating than fulfilling. In this episode, I get real about what...
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The Holiday Overwhelm Moms of Teens Don’t Talk About — Finding Calm, Connection, and Presence | Ep. 76| Ep. 76
As a mom of teens, the holidays hit differently now. I want to create joy, tradition, and connection—but underneath the twinkling lights is a quiet pressure that leaves me anxious, overwhelmed, and often carrying the...
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Letting Go on the College Tour — A Mindset Shift for Moms of Teens | Ep. 75
I used to think the college process was all about helping my teen succeed. But this past week, during a whirlwind of campus tours with one son and Parents Weekend with the other, I realized just how much my own...
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Emotional Reasoning — The Trap That Makes Moms Believe Their Anxiety, Guilt, and Fear Are Facts | Ep. 74
Have you ever felt anxious, guilty, or afraid—and assumed it meant something was wrong with your teen, your parenting, or even you? In this episode, I explore one of the most powerful and sneaky mindset traps moms...
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Identity Crisis — Letting Go, Losing Yourself, and Starting Again as a Mom of Teens | Ep. 73
When my son started to pull away, I panicked. I thought I was losing him—and, in many ways, I was. But what I didn’t expect was how much of myself I’d lose in the process. In this episode, I open up about one of the...
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The Mindset Traps Moms Don’t Talk About — A Real Conversation on Perfection, Comparison, and Letting Go with Ali Flynn | Ep. 72
This week, I had the gift of sitting down with Ali Flynn, the creator of Hang In There, Mama, and a fellow mom walking the wild ride of raising teens and young adults. Our conversation was deeply honest—about...
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Personalization (aka Mom Guilt) — The Mindset Trap That Keeps You Stuck in Overthinking and Disconnection | Ep. 71|
Guilt used to drive my parenting. If my teen was struggling, it must have been something I did. If I lost my temper, I spiraled in shame. And if I tried to set a boundary? I felt selfish. In this episode, I dig deep...
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Perfectionism — Why Moms of Teens Struggle to Let Go and Still Don’t Feel Good Enough | Ep. 70
Being forced to slow down this week gave me the space to reflect on something that’s been simmering for a while: perfectionism. Not the kind we brag about in job interviews—but the kind that quietly runs the show in...
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All or Nothing — The Mindset Trap That Keeps Moms Overwhelmed, Burned Out, and Disconnected | Ep. 69
I used to believe that if I couldn’t do something perfectly, it wasn’t worth doing at all. That belief didn’t just show up in my goals—it showed up in my parenting, my marriage, my mindset, and my relationship with...
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