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

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

en

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

en

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

en

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

en

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

en

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

en

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,

en

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

en

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

228 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