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PODCAST

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

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’ 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

kids & family parenting

All Episodes

25:17

The Real Emotions Behind the Empty Nest—Is It...

The Almost Empty Nest—Letting Go, Redefined:... ·

2025/08/23

What if the emotions of the empty nest aren’t as simple as just sadness? In this episode, I open up about the real layers we experience as moms parenting teens and launching them into their next chapter. The truth is, letting go is complicated. You may feel proud and relieved one moment, then lonely or lost the next. These emotions don’t come in neat little boxes—they overlap, collide, and leave us questioning who we are now that motherhood looks different .I share how this stage of

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20:56

“I Don't Know How”—Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens Are...

The Almost Empty Nest—Letting Go, Redefined:... ·

2025/08/20

Ever found yourself thinking, “I don’t know how”—how to connect with your teen, how to let go, or how to figure out what comes next?In this episode, I unpack the thought so many moms of teens and almost empty nesters are ashamed to admit. I explore why not knowing feels so personal, how it fuels anxiety, shame, and overthinking, and what it might look like to stay present—even when you don’t have a plan. You’ll walk away with: A new perspective on why “I don’t know how” feels so

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23:08

Rebuild Trust with Your Teen — Letting Go Without...

The Almost Empty Nest—Letting Go, Redefined:... ·

2025/08/16

Have you ever said, “I just don’t trust my teen right now”—or felt the hurt of realizing that somehow your child doesn't trust you?For usmoms navigating parenting teens and the road to the empty nest, it's amazing how complicated trust can become. We want to stay close. We want open conversations and honest connection. But instead, it can feel like our teens are pulling away, testing boundaries, and tearing down the trust we feel we deserve and desperately want to create. In this episode,

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17:22

“Nobody Listens to Me”—Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens...

The Almost Empty Nest—Letting Go, Redefined:... ·

2025/08/13

Have you ever found yourself thinking, “No one listens to me”?Maybe after your teen ignores your request, brushes off your advice, or doesn’t reply to your text.You’re not just frustrated—you’re hurt. And from this place, you start questioning yourself, wondering if you’re doing something wrong, or if you’ve somehow lost your place in your kid's life. What so many of us also do when we feel unheard and unseen is that wetry even harder to be heard. But more effort doesn’t always lead to more

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23:12

I Don’t Want to Miss This—Staying Present in Ups and...

The Almost Empty Nest—Letting Go, Redefined:... ·

2025/08/09

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 here?In this episode, I explore what it really means to be present in your life—especially during the messy, emotional seasons of parenting teens and letting go. As a mom, it’s so easy to miss the moment you’re in—not because it’s gone, but because your mind is already spinning

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16:48

“I'm Not a Confident Person”—Thoughts Moms Parenting...

The Almost Empty Nest—Letting Go, Redefined:... ·

2025/08/06

Have you ever found yourself thinking, “I’m just not a confident person”?Maybe you think it when youtry to set a boundary and back down, or when you imagine starting something new in your next chapter but instantly feel overwhelmed.In this episode, I’m unpacking the belief so many moms carry: that they lack confidence. Whether you're parenting teens, facing the uncertainty of the empty nest, or trying to figure out what's next for you—you may be interpreting normal uncertainty and

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30:08

Navigating College Drop-Off—Six Mindset Shifts for...

The Almost Empty Nest—Letting Go, Redefined:... ·

2025/08/02

✨ 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 can catch you off guard—especially when you're doing everything you can to hold it together. In this episode, I’m sharing the six most common beliefs that shape how we experience college drop-off—and why they leave so many of us moms feeling anxious and guilty. These beliefs are

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16:33

“My Teen Is Lazy”—Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens Are...

The Almost Empty Nest—Letting Go, Redefined:... ·

2025/07/30

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 you’re worried. Worried that they’re falling behind. That they don’t seem to have drive or direction. That you’ve somehow missed your window to teach them how to be responsible. In this episode, I’m unpacking the thought “my teen is lazy”—and what’s really going on underneath

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18:50

Why Vacation Feels So Hard for Moms of Teens—And What...

The Almost Empty Nest—Letting Go, Redefined:... ·

2025/07/26

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 there. If you’ve ever come home from a family trip more drained than when you left—this episode is for you. In this conversation, I’m unpacking the real reasons vacation with teens and young adults feels so emotionally charged, especially for moms parenting teens or college

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15:16

“I'm Just a Mom”—Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens Are...

The Almost Empty Nest—Letting Go, Redefined:... ·

2025/07/23

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 ache and uncertainty whenyour kids don’t need you the same way anymore. You feel asense of emptiness. Wondering who you are now. In today’s episode, I’m exploring the thought “I’m just a mom” to help you uncover the deeper fears and grief that often hide beneath it, understand how

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29:48

Do Chores Really Make Kids More Successful When...

The Almost Empty Nest—Letting Go, Redefined:... ·

2025/07/19

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 thatclaims that kids who do chores grow up to be more successful—and the minute I read it I thought, "But what happens if I can't get my kid to do chores?! The study seems to affirm our deepest sense of responsibility tohelp our kids be good people andprepare themfor the real world. But if you’ve got a teen who refuses to empty the

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15:04

“My Kid Doesn't Like Me”—Thoughts Moms Parenting...

The Almost Empty Nest—Letting Go, Redefined:... ·

2025/07/16

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 me”—and then felt a mix of heartbreak and shame, because you can’t believe this is where you’ve ended up after everything you’ve poured into them? If so, you’re not alone. I’ve been there too. And I’ve coached so many moms who’ve sat with this exact fear in silence, wondering what

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25:09

Parenting Teens in the Empty Nest Straddle—How Moms...

The Almost Empty Nest—Letting Go, Redefined:... ·

2025/07/12

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 motherhood the Empty Nest Straddle™— that long, uncertain season when you're still deeply involved in your kids' lives…while also learning to let go. It’s messy. Emotional. And completely normal. But most moms feel totally unprepared for it. In this episode, I share: Why

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22:49

“I’m Afraid I Messed My Kid Up.”—Thoughts Moms...

The Almost Empty Nest—Letting Go, Redefined:... ·

2025/07/09

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 wondered whether you somehow messed up your kid, you're not alone.In this episode, I open up about the fear so many moms of teens and college-age kids carry: that our choices, our reactions, or our mistakes in the past have damaged our children. And I explore how this fear isn’t

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31:45

How to Manage the Anxiety of Parenting Teens: 4 Steps...

The Almost Empty Nest—Letting Go, Redefined:... ·

2025/07/05

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 going on is that you’re a mom trying to love and protect your child in a chapter that feels wildly out of your control.In this episode, I’m sharing the real truth about the anxiety we moms of teens and empty nesters carry. From sleepless nights and worst-case thinking to panic and

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19:06

“I Don’t Even Like My Kid.”—Thoughts Moms Parenting...

The Almost Empty Nest—Letting Go, Redefined:... ·

2025/07/02

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 mightsound shocking… but it’s far more common than you think.In this honest and validating new series, I'm exploring the thoughts we moms are most ashamed to admit out loud—and I'll explain why they don’t make you a bad mom, but they might just be a sign that your mind is trying to protect you fromthe pain,

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27:05

Hard to Break Habits, Explained — What Nagging Really...

The Almost Empty Nest—Letting Go, Redefined:... ·

2025/06/28

Ever tell yourself, “I’ve got to stop nagging”—and then do it anyway?Or find yourself falling into the same bad habit you wish you could just stop? Whether it’s reminding your teen (again), pouring a glass of wine you swore you’d skip, or losing it after vowing to stay calm… you’re not alone. And there’s a reason these habits feel so hard to break.In this episode, I share why these patterns—nagging, numbing, controlling—aren’t just bad habits. They’re emotional coping strategies rooted in

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26:12

The Approval Trap: How Moms Parenting Teens Can...

The Almost Empty Nest—Letting Go, Redefined:... ·

2025/06/21

Are you a mom of teens or young adults who finds herself constantly second-guessing decisions, holding back your opinions, or putting your own desires on pause to keep others happy? You might be caught in the Approval Trap. And if you've spent years putting others first, it’s no wonder confidence feels hard to access right now.In this episode of the Almost Empty Nest Podcast, I unpack Mindset Trap #12—the Approval Trap. This isn't just about people-pleasing. It's about how deeply

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30:53

Why Letting Go with Your Teen Feels So Hard—Trap...

The Almost Empty Nest—Letting Go, Redefined:... ·

2025/06/14

Ever find yourself staring at your teen’s behavior thinking, this can’t be happening? Whether it’s a missed curfew, a cold shoulder, or the ache of disconnection, it’s so easy to fall into the trap of resisting what is — and it’s costing us more than we realize. In this episode, I’m diving deep into the mindset trap of resisting reality — what it looks like in parenting teens and almost-empty-nest life, how it connects to anxiety and emotional overwhelm, and why the harder we fight what’s

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30:06

You Don't Have to Let Go of Summer Expectations with...

The Almost Empty Nest—Letting Go, Redefined:... ·

2025/06/07

If you pictured summer with your teen feeling relaxing, connected, maybe even joyful—but instead, you’re staring at a messy house, unpredictable schedules, and feeling more frustration than peace—you’re not alone. In this episode, I’m sharing what summer has looked like in my house so far—and how easy it is to get caught in disappointment when reality doesn’t match your hopes. But we’re not just talking about letting go of expectations.In this episode you’ll learn: ✔️ Why even reasonable

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