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

Master Coach Jennifer Collins
  • 4.7 (67)
  • Parenting
  • Weekly

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’ really means and stop second-guessing themselves to feel more connected, confident, and at peace in this chapter of motherhood. Each week, you’ll learn how to: • Break free from mindset traps like catastrophizing, mom guilt, and the illusion of control • Build a stronger relationship with your teen—even when they pull away or test boundaries • Strengthen your self-trust as you set boundaries, let go of anxiety, and explore your own purpose beyond parenting Hosted by master life coach—and mom of two college kids—Jennifer Collins, this show offers grounded, relatable support and mindset shifts to help you stop overthinking and start showing up as the mom and woman you truly want to be. 🎧 Start with listener favorite Episode 85: The Empty Nest Straddle — The Emotional Tug of Parenting Teens and Facing the Empty Nest.

  1. 1d ago

    Mindset Traps of Parenting Teens and the Empty Nest—Series Intro: Why Letting Go Feels So Hard As Our Kids Grow Up | Ep. 301

    What if the hardest part of parenting teens and navigating the empty nest isn’t what your kids are doing, but what your own brain is telling you about it? In this episode, I’m introducing the mindset traps that can keep us stuck in anxiety, overthinking, control, and frustration as our kids grow more independent. I’ll show you why your brain is wired to seek comfort, avoid pain, and repeat familiar patterns, and how that wiring can make letting go feel so much harder than it needs to. You’ll learn how to recognize when your mind is operating on autopilot, create space before you react, and start choosing how you want to show up instead. Because this stage of motherhood doesn't ask you to care less, but to building the confidence to love your big kid deeply without making their choices responsible for your peace. 💡 Interested in learning more about how to create peace, confidence and connection as you raise and launch your teen? Join me for my next free masterclass: https://www.thesmalljar.com/class. 💪 Curious about coaching?  Check out our Mom 2.0 coaching programs (both group and 1:1): www.thesmalljar.com/Mom-2-0. Know you’re interested in group? Visit: www.thesmalljar.com/momcollective. ❓ Have questions or want to share your feedback? I'd love to hear from you! You can email me at jennifer@thesmalljar.com. This empowering podcast offers life coaching for moms and parenting support for midlife mothers raising teens as they approach the empty nest, teaching them how to let go of control, stop overthinking, and shift their mindset, while also helping them set boundaries, improve communication, reduce anxiety, release mom guilt, and find purpose in the evolving journey of parenting teens and motherhood.

  2. 5d ago

    “I Should Have More to Show for My Life”—Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens and Adult Kids Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 300

    What happens when your kids are getting older, life finally gives you a little more room to breathe…and instead of feeling grateful, you start wondering whether you’ve done enough with your life? The empty nest and parenting teens years can bring up some surprisingly big questions about motherhood, identity, finding purpose, and what we have to “show” for all the years behind us. In this episode, I’m exploring why our brains keep moving the definition of enough, why we tend to discount so much of what actually counts, and why criticizing ourselves doesn't create what we want next. I invite you to explore how to measuring your life against an invisible and moving finish line. You can still want more without making your life today wrong.   💡 Interested in learning more about how to create peace, confidence and connection as you raise and launch your teen? Join me for my next free masterclass: https://www.thesmalljar.com/class. 💪 Curious about coaching?  Check out our Mom 2.0 coaching programs (both group and 1:1): www.thesmalljar.com/Mom-2-0. Know you’re interested in group? Visit: www.thesmalljar.com/momcollective. ❓ Have questions or want to share your feedback? I'd love to hear from you! You can email me at jennifer@thesmalljar.com. This empowering podcast offers life coaching for moms and parenting support for midlife mothers raising teens as they approach the empty nest, teaching them how to let go of control, stop overthinking, and shift their mindset, while also helping them set boundaries, improve communication, reduce anxiety, release mom guilt, and find purpose in the evolving journey of parenting teens and motherhood.

  3. Oct 24

    The College Decision Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Means—Letting Go When Your Teen’s College Admissions Process Feels So Big | Ep. 299

    If your kid is applying to college, waiting on decisions, or considering a transfer, it can feel like so much is riding on what happens next. But have you ever stopped to consider how much meaning are you giving one decision? In this episode, I’m sharing what I learned after going through the college admissions process three different times with my two boys, including acceptance, rejection, disappointment, and eventually transferring. I’ll show you why a yes doesn’t guarantee happiness, a no doesn’t predict your kid’s future, and neither one says anything about whether you’ve done enough as a mom. If you’re parenting teens and feeling consumed by applications, decisions, or what comes next, this episode will help you loosen your grip on the meaning you’re giving the college decision. 💡 Interested in learning more about how to create peace, confidence and connection as you raise and launch your teen or adult child? Join me for my next free masterclass: https://www.thesmalljar.com/class. 💪 Curious about coaching?  Check out our Mom 2.0 coaching programs (both group and 1:1): www.thesmalljar.com/Mom-2-0. Know you’re interested in group? Visit: www.thesmalljar.com/momcollective. ❓ Have questions or want to share your feedback? I'd love to hear from you! You can email me at jennifer@thesmalljar.com. This empowering podcast offers life coaching for moms and parenting support for midlife mothers raising teens as they approach the empty nest, teaching them how to let go of control, stop overthinking, and shift their mindset, while also helping them set boundaries, improve communication, reduce anxiety, release mom guilt, and find purpose in the evolving journey of parenting teens and motherhood.

  4. Oct 21

    “My Big Kid Won't Talk To Me Anymore”—Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens and Adult Kids Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 298

    What do you make it mean when your big kid stops opening up to you? Maybe they give you one-word answers. Or they stop calling as much. Maybe you can tell something is going on, but they’re not telling you what it is. And before long, your mind starts filling in the blanks. In this episode, I’m looking at what happens when we lose the kind of access we once had to our kids’ inner worlds and why that shift can feel so threatening during the teen, college, and empty nest years. I’ll show you the three places our minds tend to go when our kids pull back, why uncertainty can send us into anxiety and overthinking, and how our attempts to feel closer can sometimes create the exact opposite effect. If you’ve been wondering what their silence means, this episode may help you see the situation very differently. 💡 Interested in learning more about how to create peace, confidence and connection as you raise and launch your teen? Join me for my next free masterclass: https://www.thesmalljar.com/class. 💪 Curious about coaching?  Check out our Mom 2.0 coaching programs (both group and 1:1): www.thesmalljar.com/Mom-2-0. Know you’re interested in group? Visit: www.thesmalljar.com/momcollective. ❓ Have questions or want to share your feedback? I'd love to hear from you! You can email me at jennifer@thesmalljar.com. This empowering podcast offers life coaching for moms and parenting support for midlife mothers raising teens as they approach the empty nest, teaching them how to let go of control, stop overthinking, and shift their mindset, while also helping them set boundaries, improve communication, reduce anxiety, release mom guilt, and find purpose in the evolving journey of parenting teens and motherhood.

  5. Oct 17

    The Cost of Trying to Prevent Your Kid’s Discomfort when Parenting Teens and Navigating the Empty Nest | Ep. 297

    What happens inside you when your big kid is struggling and you can’t immediately make it better? In this episode, I’m exploring why watching our teens and adult kids feel disappointed, lonely, overwhelmed, or uncomfortable can create so much anxiety for us as moms. Our instinct is often to step in, offer advice, or try to smooth the path. But sometimes that urge to help can leave us more anxious while unintentionally sending our kids the message that they can’t handle hard things on their own. I’ll help you see why your kid’s discomfort can feel so urgent to you, what it costs when you make it your job to take that discomfort away, and how to stay supportive without carrying the responsibility for making everything better. If you’re navigating parenting teens, the empty nest, or the messy middle of motherhood, this episode will help you feel more grounded and confident in how you show up. 💡 Interested in learning more about how to create peace, confidence and connection as you raise and launch your teen? Join me for my next free masterclass: https://www.thesmalljar.com/class. 💪 Curious about coaching?  Check out our Mom 2.0 coaching programs (both group and 1:1): www.thesmalljar.com/Mom-2-0. Know you’re interested in group? Visit: www.thesmalljar.com/momcollective. ❓ Have questions or want to share your feedback? I'd love to hear from you! You can email me at jennifer@thesmalljar.com. This empowering podcast offers life coaching for moms and parenting support for midlife mothers raising teens as they approach the empty nest, teaching them how to let go of control, stop overthinking, and shift their mindset, while also helping them set boundaries, improve communication, reduce anxiety, release mom guilt, and find purpose in the evolving journey of parenting teens and motherhood.

  6. Oct 14

    “I'm Embarrassed by My Big Kid”—Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens and Adult Kids Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 296

    Have you ever watched your big kid do something and immediately thought, Oh my God… what are people going to think of me? Today, I’m talking about the embarrassment that can come with parenting teens and navigating the empty nest years, especially when your kid is rude, reckless, irresponsible, or making choices you really wish they wouldn't make. I’ll help you separate your kid’s behavior from your identity as a mom, so you can stop overthinking what other people think, loosen the grip of shame, and get clearer about what actually belongs to you. You can still have opinions, set boundaries, and care about your kid without making every choice they make mean something about the kind of mother you are.  💡 Interested in learning more about how to create peace, confidence and connection as you raise and launch your teen? Join me for my next free masterclass: https://www.thesmalljar.com/class. 💪 Curious about coaching?  Check out our Mom 2.0 coaching programs (both group and 1:1): www.thesmalljar.com/Mom-2-0. Know you’re interested in group? Visit: www.thesmalljar.com/momcollective. ❓ Have questions or want to share your feedback? I'd love to hear from you! You can email me at jennifer@thesmalljar.com. This empowering podcast offers life coaching for moms and parenting support for midlife mothers raising teens as they approach the empty nest, teaching them how to let go of control, stop overthinking, and shift their mindset, while also helping them set boundaries, improve communication, reduce anxiety, release mom guilt, and find purpose in the evolving journey of parenting teens and motherhood.

  7. Oct 10

    Unconditional Connection: What Parents Weekend Taught Me About Letting Go When Your Teen or Adult Kid Has Less Time for You | Ep. 295

    What happens when the child you would happily spend all weekend with can barely carve out dinner with you? That was the reality of my recent Parents Weekend, and it gave me a front-row seat to something so many of us moms experience when parenting teens and in the empty nest. It's the temptation to measure connection by how much time, attention, or reassurance our kids give us. In this episode, I’m exploring what I call unconditional connection. I'll invite you to consider that you can want more time with your child without making their behavior mean you matter less. We’ll look at why letting go of time with your big kid can feel so threatening and how to stop requiring constant proof that your relationship is still strong. What if this stage of motherhood doesn't require you to accept less love, but instead it might be invite you to learn to trust the connection, even as your relationship with your child changes. 💡 Interested in learning more about how to create peace, confidence and connection as you raise and launch your teen? Join me for my next free masterclass: https://www.thesmalljar.com/class. 💪 Curious about coaching?  Check out our Mom 2.0 coaching programs (both group and 1:1): www.thesmalljar.com/Mom-2-0. Know you’re interested in group? Visit: www.thesmalljar.com/momcollective. ❓ Have questions or want to share your feedback? I'd love to hear from you! You can email me at jennifer@thesmalljar.com. This empowering podcast offers life coaching for moms and parenting support for midlife mothers raising teens as they approach the empty nest, teaching them how to let go of control, stop overthinking, and shift their mindset, while also helping them set boundaries, improve communication, reduce anxiety, release mom guilt, and find purpose in the evolving journey of parenting teens and motherhood.

  8. Oct 7

    “My Kid Has No Work Ethic”—Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens and Adult Kids Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 294

    Have you ever found yourself more invested in your big kid’s success than they seem to be? Maybe you’re reminding them about the job application, pushing them to study, asking for the tenth time about the chore, or wondering why they don’t seem more motivated. And before long, you’re not just frustrated by what they’re doing today, you’re worrying about who they’re becoming. In this episode, I’m talking about the pressure we carry as moms to make our kids responsible, hardworking, resilient adults. I’ll help you separate what is actually yours to teach, model, and decide from what your teen or adult kid ultimately has to learn for themselves. If you’re parenting teens, navigating the empty nest years, or working on letting go without giving up on your big kid, this episode will help you stop overthinking every decision and parent with more confidence and self-trust. 💡 Interested in learning more about how to create peace, confidence and connection as you raise and launch your teen? Join me for my next free masterclass: https://www.thesmalljar.com/class. 💪 Curious about coaching?  Check out our Mom 2.0 coaching programs (both group and 1:1): www.thesmalljar.com/Mom-2-0. Know you’re interested in group? Visit: www.thesmalljar.com/momcollective. ❓ Have questions or want to share your feedback? I'd love to hear from you! You can email me at jennifer@thesmalljar.com. This empowering podcast offers life coaching for moms and parenting support for midlife mothers raising teens as they approach the empty nest, teaching them how to let go of control, stop overthinking, and shift their mindset, while also helping them set boundaries, improve communication, reduce anxiety, release mom guilt, and find purpose in the evolving journey of parenting teens and motherhood.

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About

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’ really means and stop second-guessing themselves to feel more connected, confident, and at peace in this chapter of motherhood. Each week, you’ll learn how to: • Break free from mindset traps like catastrophizing, mom guilt, and the illusion of control • Build a stronger relationship with your teen—even when they pull away or test boundaries • Strengthen your self-trust as you set boundaries, let go of anxiety, and explore your own purpose beyond parenting Hosted by master life coach—and mom of two college kids—Jennifer Collins, this show offers grounded, relatable support and mindset shifts to help you stop overthinking and start showing up as the mom and woman you truly want to be. 🎧 Start with listener favorite Episode 85: The Empty Nest Straddle — The Emotional Tug of Parenting Teens and Facing the Empty Nest.

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