x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

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

26:12

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

en

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

en

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

en

30:39

The Identity Crisis: Letting Go, Finding Purpose, and...

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

2025/05/31

There was a moment—standing in my kitchen, alone on a Saturday while my kids were out living their lives—when I asked myself, “Is this it? Who am I now?”In this episode, I’m talking about the identity crisis so many of us face as moms of teens, college students, and young adults. Whether you're in the thick of middle school meltdowns or staring at an empty bedroom, the shift in how you're needed can leave you feeling invisible, untethered, and quietly asking, What’s my purpose now? I’ll

en

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

en

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

en

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

en

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

en

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

en

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

en

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

en

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

en

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,

en

30:40

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

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

2025/03/22

en

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

en

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

en

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

en

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

en

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

en

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

en

220 results

Similar Podcasts

Tale Teller Kids™

Sarnia de la Mare

米克馬故事坊

咪萊

Imagination Station

Imagination Station

Die Pferde sind nicht das Problem - und du bist nicht zu blöd. Der Aha-Podcast für Pferdemenschen

Silke Jahn & Maren Diehl

Hanna fragt Papa - Der Podcast für neugierige Kinder und Eltern

Hanna und Thomas Schamberger