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

Master Coach Jennifer Collins
  • 5.0 (42)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED 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—Trap #2: All-or-Nothing Thinking—Finding Peace in the Gray | Ep. 199

    Have you ever noticed how motherhood can make everything feel high stakes? One minute you’re calm and connected to your teen, and the next, you’re spiraling into worry, certain that everything is going south. That’s the All or Nothing Trap, and if you’ve ever found yourself stuck there, you’re not alone. As moms of teens and almost empty nesters, we’re navigating a season of constant change — where letting go can feel like losing control. And it’s no wonder our minds cling to extremes: if our kids are thriving, we feel okay… but if they’re struggling, we immediately assume we’ve failed. In this episode, I unpack why your brain defaults to this kind of thinking — and how it quietly fuels anxiety, perfectionism, and self-doubt. You’ll learn how to see these patterns for what they really are — your brain’s instinct to protect you — and how to gently retrain your mind to find peace in the gray. I’ll share stories from my own life and from moms I coach, showing how all-or-nothing thinking can show up as we raise and launch our big kids. If you’re ready to let go of anxiety and feel grounded no matter what’s happening around you, this episode will help you find your footing. 💡 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 with Small Jar?  Check out our Mom 2.0 coaching program: www.thesmalljar.com/Mom-2-0 ❓ 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.

    23 min

  2. 4D AGO

    "I Don't Like the Person I've Become” —Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens and Adult Kids Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 198

    Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I don’t even like the person I’ve become”? It’s one of those thoughts that hits you right in the gut. You love your kids. You’re doing your best to hold it all together. And yet, somewhere in the process of raising and launching your big kid, you don’t quite recognize yourself anymore. In this episode, I’m diving into what’s really underneath that thought. Because it’s not a sign that you’re failing — it’s a sign that you’re hurting. You’ll learn how your brain uses self-judgment as a way to feel in control, and why that mindset only creates more guilt, anxiety, and overthinking. Together, we’ll explore how compassion and awareness can help you step off that hamster wheel — so you can stop reacting from fear and start responding from calm. You’ll see how to reconnect with the woman underneath the stress, the mom who still wants peace, confidence, and purpose in this next season of motherhood. If you’ve been feeling disconnected or overwhelmed — wondering where your spark went — this episode is your reminder: you haven’t lost her. She’s still there. Let’s help you find her again. 💡 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 with Small Jar?  Check out our Mom 2.0 coaching program: www.thesmalljar.com/Mom-2-0 ❓ 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.

    23 min

  3. NOV 1

    What the College Process Taught Me About Parenting Teens (and Letting Go) | Ep 197

    Parenting teens through the college process can stir up a mix of pride, fear, and anxiety that no one really prepares us for. Whether you’re deep in the application season or already adjusting to the empty nest, this stage of motherhood is full of moments that test our ability to let go. In this episode, I’m sharing what I wish I’d known before my boys went through the college process—the truths that helped me stop overthinking, ease my anxiety, and show up as the calm, confident mom I wanted to be. You’ll hear the lessons that changed everything for me: why college admissions are less about your child’s worth and more about perspective, how struggle is the foundation of growth, and what it really looks like to support your teen without losing yourself in the process. These insights aren’t just for moms in the thick of applications—they’re for anyone learning how to trust their child’s journey while staying grounded in their own. Because the mindset that helps us let go is the same one that helps us reconnect—with our kids, and with ourselves. 💡 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 with Small Jar?  Check out our Mom 2.0 coaching program: www.thesmalljar.com/Mom-2-0 ❓ 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.

    29 min

  4. OCT 29

    "My Teen Disrespects My Boundaries” —Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens and Adult Kids Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 196

    Ever feel like your teen just doesn’t care about the boundaries you’ve set? You’ve tried being calm, clear, consistent — and still, nothing changes. You end up frustrated, questioning your parenting, and wondering if you’ll ever stop overthinking this stage of motherhood. In this episode of The Almost Empty Nest Podcast, I share what’s really going on beneath the thought, “My kid doesn’t respect my boundaries.” You’ll see how easy it is to fall into the illusion of control — believing that your peace depends on your child’s behavior — and how to finally let go of that exhausting pattern. Together, we’ll redefine what setting boundaries actually means. You’ll learn how to stop tying your emotional well-being to your teen’s choices and start focusing on the one thing that’s always within your control: how you show up. This simple mindset shift can help you reduce anxiety, rebuild confidence, and parent from calm instead of chaos. If you’re a mom navigating the space between parenting teens and the empty nest, this episode will remind you that letting go doesn’t mean giving up — it means stepping into your power. You’ll see how life coaching tools and a new perspective can help you find peace, connection, and purpose in this next chapter of motherhood. 💡 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 with Small Jar?  Check out our Mom 2.0 coaching program: www.thesmalljar.com/Mom-2-0 ❓ 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.

    22 min

  5. OCT 25

    Mindset Traps of Parenting Teens and the Empty Nest—Trap #1: The Emotional Rollercoaster—Ep. 195

    Have you ever noticed how motherhood can feel like one long emotional rollercoaster? One moment you feel calm and connected, and the next you’re anxious, frustrated, or doubting yourself. That constant up-and-down isn’t just part of the job — it’s one of the hidden mindset traps that keeps so many moms stuck in worry and self-doubt as their kids grow up. In this episode, I’m relaunching my Mindset Traps of Parenting Teens and the Empty Nest series — starting with the one that drives them all: emotional reasoning. It’s the habit of believing that how you feel is evidence of what’s true — that anxiety means something’s wrong, or guilt means you’ve failed. But once you understand this trap, you can start to see your emotions differently — as signals, not stop signs. You can stop reacting to every emotional surge and start responding with calm, clarity, and confidence. Dive into this series to learn how to step off the emotional rollercoaster and take your peace back — no matter what’s happening with your teen or in your empty nest. 💡 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 with Small Jar?  Check out our Mom 2.0 coaching program: www.thesmalljar.com/Mom-2-0 ❓ 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.

    25 min

  6. OCT 22

    Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens Are Ashamed They Think—“I Feel Invisible” | Ep. 194

    Have you ever walked into your own home and felt invisible? As a mom of teens in the thick of raising teens and adult kids, that feeling can hurt. In this episode, I open up about how easy it is for us moms to slip into the background of our own lives, constantly giving and doing for everyone else while quietly wondering if anyone even sees us. You've been there—the clean laundry left at the foot of the stairs, the untouched dinner dishes, the exhaustion of feeling like the glue holding everything together. I'm going to explore why so many of us let this happen and how societal conditioning and our own loving instincts can trap us in cycles of overdoing, resentment, and guilt. Through this conversation, I’ll help you see that the feeling of invisibility isn’t really about your family not seeing you—it’s about how somewhere along the way, you stopped seeing yourself. You’ll learn how letting go of guilt and overthinking opens the door to reconnecting with your own needs, setting boundaries with love, and rediscovering purpose beyond motherhood. This episode is an invitation to shift your mindset—to stop searching for validation in everyone else’s reactions and start finding your worth within. 💡 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 with Small Jar?  Check out our Mom 2.0 coaching program: www.thesmalljar.com/Mom-2-0 ❓ 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.

    22 min

  7. OCT 18

    Mindset Traps of Parenting Teens and the Empty Nest—The Real Reason We Feel So Anxious As Our Kids Grow Up—Intro Ep. 193

    Have you ever noticed how motherhood feels like one long lesson in letting go — but no one ever tells you how to do it? One moment you’re deep in the chaos of parenting teens, and the next, you’re staring at an empty nest, wondering how to stop worrying and start feeling at peace again. In this episode, I’m sharing a fresh take on mindset traps — those sneaky thought patterns that keep us moms stuck in anxiety, guilt, and overthinking, especially as our kids grow up and need us differently. You’ll learn how your mindset can either keep you in constant reaction mode or help you create calm, connection, and confidence, even when life feels uncertain. I’ll explain why your brain is wired to crave comfort and control (and how that makes letting go so uncomfortable), and I’ll show you how to start working with your mind instead of against it. If you’ve been feeling drained by the push and pull between wanting to help and needing to step back, this conversation will help you set boundaries with love, reduce anxiety, and begin finding purpose again — not through your kids, but within yourself. Motherhood in this season isn’t just about letting go of your kids. It’s about letting go of everything in your mind that’s holding you back from peace, joy, and freedom in your next chapter. Join me to find out how! 💡 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 with Small Jar?  Check out our Mom 2.0 coaching program: www.thesmalljar.com/Mom-2-0 ❓ 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.

    24 min

  8. OCT 15

    “I'm Codependent on My Kids”—Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 192

    Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I’m codependent on my kids”—and then immediately felt ashamed for it? You’re not alone. So many moms in the empty nest or parenting teens phase feel that tug between love and letting go. For years, we’ve been wired to sense our kids’ needs—to comfort, fix, and protect. That instinct doesn’t just disappear when they grow up. But sometimes our care turns into worry, overthinking, or trying to manage what we can’t control. Not because we’re needy, but because we’re afraid—afraid they’ll suffer, or that we’ll lose our connection or sense of purpose if they don’t need us the same way anymore. In this episode I’ll share why this reaction makes perfect sense and what science says about how motherhood literally wires us to feel our kids’ emotions as if they’re our own. Join me to challenge this concept of codependency and understand what's really at the root of your emotional ups and downs as a mom.   💡 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 with Small Jar?  Check out our Mom 2.0 coaching program: www.thesmalljar.com/Mom-2-0 ❓ 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.

    20 min
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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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