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

Helping moms of teens and college kids set boundaries, release anxiety, and build lasting connection—with their big kids and themselves.

All Episodes

Episodes

Who’s Taking Care of You? A Mom’s Survival Guide to Letting Go Without Falling Apart | Ep. 123

No matter how old your child, no matter what else you have on your plate, I bet you drop everything if they need you. It's just what we do as moms.  You do everything in your power to support their dreams. We're...
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What If Letting Go Isn’t What You Think? A Mindset Shift for Moms of Teens in Transition | Ep. 122

Let's talk about this phrase, "letting go."  As we raise our teens and approach the empty nest, the thought of "letting go" of our kids is painful. It can make us feel like we need to hold on tighter, or dread a time...
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When You’re Not Sure What to Do Next: A Mindset Reset for Moms of Teens | Ep. 121

How often does the phrase, "I don't know," come to mind or out of your mouth? I don't know how to get my teen to listen. I don't know why my daughter is always angry. I don't know whether I should get involved. I...
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Stop Giving Everyone Else Control Over How You Feel: A Mindset Shift for Moms Letting Go | Ep. 120

If you've ever found yourself caught in a whirlwind of frustration, resentment, or feeling out of control because of how others are behaving—whether it's your kids, your spouse, or others in your life—you are not...
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Believe in Yourself Like You Believe in Your Teen: The Mentor Mom Mindset Shift | Ep. 119

One thing I love about being a mom is that I get to believe my in boys' potential, even when they can't see it. In fact, I am so fiercely dedicated to my belief in their potential, that there is nothing that can...
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The Advice You Give Your Teen Is the Wisdom You Need Most as a Mom in Midlife | Ep. 118

As moms, we have really good advice. We want the best for our kids and we have a lot of experience in life that our kids don't have. But what's interesting is that the advice we give our kids is often the very same...
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Senior Year: Letting Go, Showing Up, and Finding Peace in the In-Between Before the Empty Nest | Ep. 117

As a mom entering your child’s senior year of high school, you feel deeply the weight of the change to come. With each micro-goodbye, each "last", you feel closer to that time when you will have to say goodbye to your...
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From Hormones to Heartache: Understanding Your Emotions in Motherhood and Midlife | Ep. 116

It's an emotional rollercoaster, this business of raising and launching teens. There are so many beautiful highs, but the lows are rough. We've been supporting our kids, helping them be safe, happy and successful, for...
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It’s Not Empty—It’s Open: A New Way for Moms to Navigate the Teen and Empty Nest Years | Ep. 115

Some of us dread the empty nest...others of us embrace it. No matter your perspective about that moment when your last child leaves home, us moms actually start the process of letting go much earlier. As soon as our...
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NOT More College Move In Advice - They’re Ready. Are You? A Mindset Guide for Moms Letting Go | Ep. 114

"Stay positive!" "You just need to learn to let go." "Find new purpose." "Learn pickleball!"  It's not that this advice isn't well-meaning...the problem is that this advice doesn't address the root cause of the...
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This Isn’t About Pickleball: Why Midlife Moms in Transition Need More Than Advice | Ep. 113

When I was in the thick of figuring out what was next — after the teen chaos settled and the empty nest crept closer — everyone had advice: “Try pickleball,” “Start volunteering,” “Find a new hobby.” And while those...
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It’s Not Perfect—But It’s Beautiful: How Moms of Teens Can Stop Overthinking and Start Living | Ep. 112

Life is messy.  Life with teens, riding the roller coaster of emotions as they grow up...for us moms, it's particularly messy. Learning how to redefine ourselves as we approach the next chapter...messy. We often tell...
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