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’...
All Episodes
Episodes
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...
View Episode
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...
View Episode
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...
View Episode
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...
View Episode
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...
View Episode
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...
View Episode
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...
View Episode
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...
View Episode
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...
View Episode
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...
View Episode
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...
View Episode
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...
View Episode
