The Almost Empty Nest—Letting Go, Redefined: Parenting Teens and Finding Yourself Again—with Small Jar Coach
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 relationship with your teen—even when they pull away or test boundaries
• Strengthen your self-trust as you set boundaries, let go of anxiety, and explore your own purpose beyond parenting
Hosted by master life coach—and mom of two college kids—Jennifer Collins, this show offers grounded, relatable support and mindset shifts to help you stop overthinking and start showing up as the mom and woman you truly want to be.
🎧 Start with listener favorite Episode 85: The Empty Nest Straddle — The Emotional Tug of Parenting Teens and Facing the Empty Nest.
Latest Episode
Previous Episodes
- "My Kid's Leaving and I Thought I'd Be Used To This By Now" —Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens and Adult Kids Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 216
- Mindset Traps of Parenting Teens and the Empty Nest—Trap #4: Illusion of Control — Letting Go of Anxiety, Not Your Kid | Ep. 215
- "Nothing Changed This Year" —Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens and Adult Kids Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 214
- Who Do You Want To Be in 2026?—Parenting Teens, Letting Go, and Learning to Trust Yourself in the Empty Nest | Ep. 213
- "I'm Already Disappointed by the Holidays" —Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens and Adult Kids Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 212
- Three Gifts for Moms Parenting Teens and Adult Kids—How Letting Go, Connection, and Compassion Transform this Stage of Motherhood | Ep. 211
- "I'm Worried My Teen Will Ruin My Holiday" —Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens and Adult Kids Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 210
- Radical Acceptance Part II—Four Steps to Reclaim Your Power When Parenting Teens or in the Empty Nest | Ep. 209
- "I'm Doing Everything Wrong" —Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens and Adult Kids Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 208
- Parenting Teens in the College Process—Three Lessons That Go Far Beyond Early Decision | Ep 207
- "I'm Not Proud of My Teen Sometimes" —Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens and Adult Kids Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 206
- Mindset Traps of Parenting Teens and the Empty Nest—Trap #3: Comparison Trap—Seeing Your Life Without the Pressure to Keep Up | Ep. 205
- "I Love (and Hate) the Holidays" —Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens and Adult Kids Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 204
- Radical Acceptance: The Power of Letting Go When Parenting Teens Gets Hard | Ep. 203
- "My Teen Doesn't Appreciate Everything I Do for Them” —Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens and Adult Kids Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 202
- When Your Big Kid Shares Too Much…Or Not Enough—Parenting Teens and Finding Peace on the Road to the Empty Nest | Ep. 201
- "My Teen Thinks I'm the Problem” —Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens and Adult Kids Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 200
- Mindset Traps of Parenting Teens and the Empty Nest—Trap #2: All-or-Nothing Thinking—Finding Peace in the Gray | Ep. 199
- "I Don't Like the Person I've Become” —Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens and Adult Kids Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 198
- What the College Process Taught Me About Parenting Teens (and Letting Go) | Ep 197
