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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

26:34

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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27:32

Midlife Mindset Traps - Intro Part II | Ep. 136

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

2025/01/04

Welcome back to Part II of the introduction to this new series on the Small Jar Podcast whereI dive into the mindset traps that can hold us back as moms of teens and almost empty nesters. This week focus on our instinct to avoid pain and how this shapes the lens through which we view our role as parents and our kids' moods, behavior and outcomes. This basic instinct is a really good thing in many ways, but it can also hold us back and cause us to show up in ways that we don't really want

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25:05

Who Will You Be in 2025? | Ep 135

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

2025/01/01

As we stand on the threshold of 2025, I invite you to join me for a journey through the lessons, growth, and pivotal moments that have defined my past five years. In this episode of The Small Jar Podcast, I reflect on the evolution of motherhood, the transition into an empty nest, and the profound realization that loving unconditionally and leading with intention is the key to thriving in every role we play. Together, we’ll explore how celebrating small wins, embracing self-compassion, and

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34:33

Midlife Mindset Traps - Intro Part I | Ep. 134

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

2024/12/28

This week on The Small Jar Podcast,I'm kicking off a transformative new series on MidlifeMindset Traps that keep us stuck in frustration and anxiety. If you find yourself struggling as a mom to find peace, connection, and purpose, this episode is for you. In this first episode, I dive into how our instinct to seek comfort can sometimes lead us astray, leaving us feeling dependent on external validation or stuck in unproductive habits. You’ll learn three powerful insights: the role your

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28:04

A 10 Out of 10 Holiday | Ep. 133

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

2024/12/21

10 out of 10! 5 stars! Excellent! Amazing!Wouldn't it be nice if you could reflect on the upcoming holidays with this sentiment? In this episode of the Small Jar Podcast, I explore how...not by creatingperfect circumstances, but by taking ownership of your emotional experience. Like a teacher, we have an internal "rubric" for judging our lives. But this often leads to disappointment when reality doesn't meet our expectations. Join me as I uncover how to redefine those expectations, embrace

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22:14

Unconditional Connection with Your Teen | Ep. 132

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

2024/12/14

Join me as I open up about the emotional tug-of-war that comes with parenting a high school senior as they prepare to leave the nest. It’s a time of mixed emotions—grappling with pride, fear, and the bittersweet realization that life is changing. I share personal stories and insights on how to let go of the expectations that often define our connection with our teens, and instead, learn to embrace unconditional love and connection, even as they grow more independent. This episode is a guide

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24:57

A Gift for My Teen | Ep. 131

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

2024/12/07

The emotions of parenting teens can hit hard—whether it’s waiting for big college news, managing the quiet shift of an almost-empty nest, or navigating the bittersweet joy of watching your kids grow up. In this week’s episode,I’m sharing one of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned as a mom: how to create unconditional love, connection, and purpose—no matter the challenges or changes that come our way. This episode isn’t just about giving your teen the space to grow; it’s about discovering

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22:30

Choosing Peace | Ep. 130

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

2024/11/30

The holiday season is upon us—filled with joy, love, and, let’s be honest, a fair share of stress. In this episode, I invite you to consider that peaceisn'tsomething you have to earn...but instead something that you have the power to choose. Join me as I share howyou can step off the hamster wheel of expectations—your own and everyone else's—and truly embrace a sense of calm and connection.As you navigate the holidays, give yourself the most precious gift of all—the ability to choose

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23:49

ONE Obstacle Series - Overcoming Dread | Ep. 129

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

2024/11/23

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29:37

ONE Obstacle Series - Overcoming Overwhelm | Ep. 128

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

2024/11/16

The holidays are approaching, and as midlife moms, the season can feel like a swirling storm of expectations, obligations, and emotions.We juggle so much—family traditions, holiday planning, our children’s ever-changing needs, and the bittersweet reality of approaching the empty nest. It’s no wonder we feel stretched thin. Overwhelm can manifest as a tangled web of stress, anxiety, guilt, and frustration, making it hard to enjoy what should be a season of peace and joy.Let’s make this

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24:45

ONE Obstacle Series - Overcoming Disappointment | Ep....

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

2024/11/09

Welcome back to the Small Jar's ONE Obstacle series where we’re diving into the one thing holding so many of us back from creating the happiness wewant in midlife. This week, I’m diving into that tricky emotion we all encounter but rarely name: disappointment. Why is it so hard to admit that we’re disappointed—sometimes with our lives, our relationships, or even with ourselves? Let’s talk about why this feeling shows up, what it really means, and how we can shift from feeling stuck in it to

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25:35

ONE OBSTACLE Series - Overcoming Worry | Ep. 126

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

2024/11/02

Welcome back to the second episode in Small Jar's new series where we’re diving into the one thing holding so many of us back from creating the happiness we crave in midlife. In this episode, I’m diving into one of the most common obstacles we face in midlife—worry. Whether it’s our kids, our relationships, or uncertainty about the future, worry can consume us, leaving us feeling powerless and disconnected from the moments that matter most. I’ll explore why our minds are wired for worry and

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26:43

The ONE OBSTACLE to Creating a Happy Life

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

2024/10/26

Welcome to a brand-new series on the Small Jar Podcast where we’re diving into the one thing holding so many of us back from creating the happiness we crave in midlife. If you’re a mom of teens or an empty nester, feeling like your world is shifting as your kids grow more independent, you’re not alone. What if I told you that there's one obstacle keeping you stuck, and that understanding this obstacle emotion is the key to unlocking a new chapter of peace, purpose, and joy in your life. In

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26:43

Embracing THIS Moment | Ep . 124

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

2024/10/19

As moms in midlife, we face a lot of challenges. In this week's episode, I'm diving into something that’s been heavy on my heart lately—navigating my son's senior year, the pressure of college applications, and all the emotions that come with it. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by stress or found yourself worrying endlessly about your child’s future, you’ll want to listen in.I'll be sharing the roller coaster of emotions I've been experiencing, and more importantly, how I’ve been working

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28:17

Who's Taking Care of You? | Ep. 123

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

2024/10/12

No matter how old your child, no matter what else you have on your plate, I bet you drop everything ifthey need you. It's just what we do as moms. You do everything in your power to support their dreams.We're working so hard to support the needs of everyone else in our life. But, who's taking care of us? Even though we wouldn't trade anything for the gift of being a mom, this sense of purpose and meaning doesn't solve for the anxiety and stress we can feel as we navigate raising and

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28:34

Letting Go | Ep. 122

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

2024/10/05

Let's talk about this phrase, "letting go." As we raise our teens and approach the empty nest, the thought of "letting go" of our kids is painful. It can make us feel like we need to hold on tighter, or dread a time when we really will have to let go. We think it means we have to let go of our desire to keep our kids safe and help them be happy and successful. We can think he means we have to let go of our connection with our kids, and the deep purpose we have felt as moms. Is it any wonder

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26:00

"I Don't Know" Mindset | Ep. 121

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

2024/09/28

How often does the phrase, "I don't know," come to mind or out of your mouth?I don't know how to get my teen to listen. I don't know why mydaughter is always angry. I don't know whether I should get involved. I don't know what I should do next. Sound familiar? There are some times where you literally don't know. In other words, there are facts that you don't have. Other times, we fall into what Icall the "I Don't Know" mindset....when we tell ourselves that we don't know because we want to

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23:48

Creating Emotional Intention | Ep. 120

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

2024/09/21

If you've ever found yourself caught in a whirlwind of frustration, resentment, or feeling out of control because of how others are behaving—whether it's your kids, your spouse, or others in your life—you are not alone. Most of us give away our emotional power waiting for others to behave a certain way so we can feel okay. The problem is, this keeps us dependent on the circumstances of our lives going perfectly, and when they inevitably don't align with our hopes and expectations, we find

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23:01

Having Your Own Back | Ep. 119

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

2024/09/14

One thing I love about being a mom is that I get to believe my in boys' potential, even when they can't see it. In fact, I am so fiercely dedicated to my belief in their potential, that there is nothing that can convince me they don't deserve all of the happiness and success their hearts can hold. But with ourselves, we're pretty quick to give up on our own potential. Or we wait for evidence to help us believe it. Whetherwe're looking for validation from others, or proof of our progress

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27:19

The Advice You Need to Hear | Ep. 118

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

2024/09/07

As moms, we have really good advice. We want the best for our kids and we have a lot of experience in life that our kids don't have. But what's interesting is that the advice we give our kids is often the very same advice we need to hear ourselves. But how often do we actually take our own advice? In this episode, I share my personal experiences and examples from my coaching practice to help you see the wisdom you already have within you. Join me as we reflect on this sage advice and

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