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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

26:19

What I've Learned About Letting Go as a Mom of Teens...

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

2025/05/24

There’s a moment when it hits you: this is the last time. The last prom. The last school lunch. The last graduation day. And it’s not just about your teen moving on — it’s about everything this moment brings up for you. In this episode, I’m reflecting on my own journey as a mom of teens standing at the edge of the empty nest, and what this season has taught me about identity, connection, and the deep, invisible work of motherhood. Letting go isn’t one big act — it’s a thousand tiny shifts

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26:51

The Validation Trap: Why Moms of Teens Feel Anxious...

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

2025/05/17

If you’re a mom of teens and you’ve ever found yourself feeling anxious, overthinking, or just wondering why doesn’t anyone notice everything I do?—this episode is for you. In this next part of the Mindset Traps of the Empty Nest series, I’m talking about validation seeking—how it shows up, why it’s so normal, and what it costs us when we don’t see it clearly. This isn’t about trying to let go of your kid—it’s about letting go of the belief that their behavior defines your worth. If you’ve

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24:07

Why Moms of Teens Need to Stop Waiting to Be...

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

2025/05/10

Mother’s Day hasn’t always felt the way I thought it would — especially as a mom of teenagers. I spent years waiting to be celebrated, managing my mindset around disappointment, and wondering if anyone really saw everything I was carrying. In this episode, I’m sharing a raw and honest reflection on why this day can feel so emotionally charged, and what I’ve learned about letting go — not just of expectations, but of the idea that our worth depends on anyone else’s recognition. If you’re

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24:27

The "Should Trap": Trap: When Moms of Teens Feel Like...

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

2025/05/03

If you’re a mom of a teen and you ever find yourself thinking, “I should be more patient... I should give them more space… I should have done something differently,” this episode is for you.In this week’s episode of the Mindset Traps of the Empty Nest series, I’m diving into the Should Trap. As moms, especially in thisstressful season leading up to the empty nest, we carry around an invisible checklist of expectations—and when we don’t meet those expectations, we don’t just feel like we’ve

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25:31

The Real Reason Boundaries Feel So Hard for Moms of...

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

2025/04/26

In today’s episode, I’m getting real about one of the hardest parts of raising teens—setting boundaries. Not boundaries to control your teen or fix their behavior—but boundaries that reconnect you to your own peace, clarity, and confidence. We’ll talk about why boundaries feel so hard (hint: it’s not because you’re doing it wrong), what’s actually underneath the guilt and second-guessing, and how the most powerful boundary you can ever set… is the one you set with yourself. If you’ve been

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31:49

The Worst-Case Scenario Trap: Anxiety, Teens, and the...

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

2025/04/19

We’re continuing the Empty Nest Mindset Trap series this week with one of the most common and exhausting patterns I see in anxious moms: worst-case scenario thinking. Maybe your teen’s been struggling in school for a while… or they’ve been more distant lately. The concerns are real—but your brain takes that evidence and spins it into something so much bigger, imagining futures that feel terrifying and out of your control. I’ve been there too, lying awake at night trying to solve problems

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34:28

The Fear of Failing Your Teen - A College Decision...

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

2025/04/12

This episode is for every anxious, almost empty nest mom whose heart is tangled up in her teen’s future. Whether you're in the thick of college admissions or simply watching your child make choices that feel high-stakes, I promise—you’re not alone. I share my own raw experience of watching my son navigate college decisions and the gut-punch of feeling powerless. But this isn’t just a conversation about college. It’s about the fear of failure—not just for our teens, but our own fear of

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26:15

The Guilt That Won’t Let Go: Why You Think It’s Your...

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

2025/04/05

MINDSET TRAPS OF THE EMPTY NEST - Trap #6 - PersonalizationEver feel like your teen’s bad mood is somehow your fault? In this episode of The Small Jar, I’m diving deep into one of the most painful and sneaky mindset traps we moms fall into—personalization. It’s that gut-wrenching habit of making our kids’ struggles, choices, and emotions mean something about us. I’ve lived it, I’ve coached through it, and I’ve seen how it quietly steals our peace and strains our connection with our kids

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30:33

The Empty Nest Straddle | Ep. 148

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

2025/03/29

Have you ever felt like you're living in two worlds at once—still deep in the trenches of motherhood while also staring down an almost-empty nest? I know I have. In this episode, I dive into what I call the Empty Nest Straddle—that long, messy, emotional transition where you're constantly shifting between holding on and letting go. It’s the push and pull of still being needed while feeling your child drift into their own independence. And if you’ve ever wrestled with uncertainty, control,

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30:40

Mindset Traps of the Empty Nest - Trap #5 -...

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

2025/03/22

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31:07

Can't Wait for the Empty Nest? | Ep. 146

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

2025/03/15

Some moms dread the empty nest...and some of us....can't wait. Have you ever found yourself counting down the days until your child leaves home (either for the first time or after a visit)—but then feeling guilty about it? In this episode of he Small Jar Podcast, I dive into the emotional rollercoaster of looking forward to the empty nest while still holding space for the deep love we have for our kids. Why do some of us feel relief at the thought of reclaiming our time, while others

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32:10

Mindset Traps of the Empty Nest - Trap #4 - Illusion...

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

2025/03/08

Have you ever found yourself checking your kid, reminding them (again) about their responsibilities, or feeling that tight grip of anxiety when they don’t do what you ask or hope they'll do? If so, you’re not alone. In this episode of the Small Jar Podcast, I dive into one of the biggest mindset traps we face as moms of teens—the illusion of control. For years, we’ve shaped our children’s lives, guiding them, protecting them, ensuring their happiness. But as they step into independence, we

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31:27

100 Days Until Graduation....How I'm Approaching This...

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

2025/03/01

Two years ago, I recorded an episode about the last 100 days before my oldest son's high school graduation—full of emotion, nostalgia, and the feeling that time was slipping away. Now, I'm here again, counting down the last 100 days with my youngest, but this time, everything feels different. In this episode, I reflect on how much I've grown, how my perspective has shifted, and what I’ve learned about letting go, trusting the journey, and embracing this season with peace instead of fear. If

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26:24

Mindset Traps of the Empty Nest - Trap #3 -...

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

2025/02/22

Have you ever found yourself scrolling through social media, seeing another mom’s perfectly happy family vacation, and feeling that pang of “Why can’t I have that?” Or maybe you’ve heard about another teen’s big achievement and suddenly questioned whether you’ve done enough for your own child? In this episode of The Small Jar Podcast, I dive into the comparison trap—one of the sneakiest mindset traps that keeps us feeling inadequate and anxious. I’ll unpack why our brains are wired to

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28:09

Redefining Self-Awareness | Ep. 142

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

2025/02/15

I used to think self-awareness meant being brutally honest about all the ways I was falling short—until I realized that what I thought was awareness was actually just self-judgment. In this episode, I’m redefining what true self-awareness really looks like and how shifting your perspective can change everything. You’ll learn why self-judgment keeps you stuck, how to recognize sneaky mindset traps disguised as "truth," and the simple but powerful shift that will help you trust yourself and

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31:07

Mindset Traps of the Empty Nest - Trap #2 - All or...

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

2025/02/08

In this episode of theSmall Jar Podcast, I’m diving into the second mindset trap on the road to the empty nest—all-or-nothing thinking. You know the feeling: if your teen misses a curfew, your brain leaps to worst-case scenarios, or if you’re not the 'perfect mom,' you fear you’re failing altogether. But here’s what you might not believe—you’re not falling into this trap because you’re anxious or overreacting. In fact, your brain thinks it’s protecting you. I’ll show you why this instinct

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27:51

When Life Gets Hard | Ep. 140

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

2025/02/01

As moms, we're always trying our best. You pour your heart into your kids. But as they pull away, or as you approach the empty nest, it can feel really hard. In fact, during this transitional time of life, there are many things that can feel really hard. Just looking on the bright side isn't an option. In this episode, I’m sharing a deeply personal story about one of the hardest moments I’ve faced as a mom—and what it taught me about love, letting go, and trusting myself. If you’re

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31:27

Mindset Traps of the Empty Nest - Trap #1 - Emotional...

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

2025/01/25

Are you ready to take a closer look at the mindset traps that keep us stuck as moms approaching the empty nest? In this episode of my new series on the mindset traps of the empty nest,I'm tackling Mindset Trap #1, and that is the emotional rollercoaster that so many of us moms find ourselves riding. I’ll share why we often feel like our emotions are completely out of our control and how this mindset can hold us back from peace and clarity. You’ll walk away with practical insights on how to

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27:53

What is a Mindset Trap? | Ep. 138

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

2025/01/18

Join me for a Mindset Trap 101. In this episode, I continue Small Jar's new series on Midlife Mindset Traps by exploring what they are, how they form, and how they intertwine with our instincts as humans.Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode... First, you'll learn how mindset traps are fueled by subconscious biological responses that are completely normal and natural. Second,you'll discoverhow our thoughts and beliefs about ourselves shape the stories we tell about who we are. And

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26:34

Midlife Mindset Traps - Intro Part III - Keeping It...

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

2025/01/11

Join me as I wrap up the three-part introduction to my new series on Midlife Mindset Taps with a deep dive into the instinct to conserve energy—what I call "keeping it simple." I explore how this instinct has evolutionary roots and helps us create habits, routines, and efficiencies in our lives. But I also explore howthis instinct can hold us back when life calls for change, like letting go of our teens or navigating the transition to an empty nest. You'll learn how your mindset drives both

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