The Almost Empty Nest—Letting Go, Redefined: Parenting Teens and Finding Yourself Again—with Small Jar Coach

The Almost Empty Nest—Letting Go, Redefined: Parenting Teens and Finding Yourself Again—with Small Jar Coach

Hosted by: Master Coach Jennifer Collins

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’...

All Episodes

Episodes

I Don’t Want to Miss This—Staying Present in Ups and Downs of Raising Teens and the Empty Nest | Ep. 173

Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I want to enjoy this, but it’s just not going how I hoped”—whether it’s a family dinner your teen bails on or the quiet ache of the empty nest creeping in before it’s even...
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“I'm Not a Confident Person”—Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 172

Have you ever found yourself thinking, “I’m just not a confident person”? Maybe you think it when you try to set a boundary and back down, or when you imagine starting something new in your next chapter but instantly...
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Navigating College Drop-Off—Six Mindset Shifts for Moms Launching Teens | Ep. 171

✨ What if the hardest part of college move-in day isn’t the goodbye—but the story you’re telling yourself about it? College drop-off is supposed to be a milestone moment. But if you're anything like me, the emotions...
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“My Teen Is Lazy”—Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 170

Have you ever looked at your teen—ignoring chores, blowing off school, stuck to a screen—and thought, “Why don’t they care?” Maybe you’ve even said: “They’re so lazy.” It’s not that you want to judge them. It’s that...
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Why Vacation Feels So Hard for Moms of Teens—And What Lets You Reconnect | Ep. 169

Why does something that’s supposed to be fun feel so hard? You plan the vacation hoping for rest, reconnection, maybe even a few magical moments. But instead, you find yourself wondering if your teen even wants to be...
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“I'm Just a Mom”—Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 168

 Have you ever found yourself saying, “I’m just a mom”? Maybe you wouldn’t say this out loud. The "just" a mom. Because you’re proud of being a mom. You love your kids more than anything. And yet… you can feel this...
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Do Chores Really Make Kids More Successful When Parenting Teens? What the Research Says | Ep. 167

Are you worried that your kid not doing their choices means they're never going to be responsible? I saw a social media post referencing a Harvard study that claims that kids who do chores grow up to be more...
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“My Kid Doesn't Like Me”—Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 166

Absolutely—here’s a refined version in your voice: warm, grounded, emotionally honest, and empowering, with the right mix of personal connection and clear value: Have you ever thought, “My kid doesn’t even like...
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Parenting Teens in the Empty Nest Straddle—How Moms Can Let Go Without Losing Themselves | Ep. 165

Are you a mom navigating the wild terrain of parenting teens — where one minute they need you and the next they’re pushing you away? Then this episode will show you that you're not alone. I call this stretch of...
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“I’m Afraid I Messed My Kid Up.”—Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 164

Have you ever looked at something your teen is doing and thought, “What if this is my fault?” Maybe that you pushed too hard… or not hard enough. Maybe you missed a sign or set the wrong boundaries. If you've ever...
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How to Manage the Anxiety of Parenting Teens: 4 Steps to Let Go Without Losing Control | Ep. 163

Have you ever felt like your mind is constantly spinning with fear about your teen’s safety, choices, or future—and no matter how hard you try, you just can’t turn it off?It's not just you. In fact, what's really...
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“I Don’t Even Like My Kid.”—Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 162

Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I don’t even like my kid right now”—and then felt instantly ashamed? If you’re parenting teens or navigating the empty nest, this thought might sound shocking… but it’s far...
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