Do you feel like you can’t take a moment for yourself without feeling guilty?

In this episode, I’ll show you how to reclaim tiny pockets of time for self-care or personal goals, fit them seamlessly into your life, and do it without stealing from your family or feeling guilty.

You’ll learn:

How to use tiny 10–20 minute windows for self-care that actually stick

How to choose a dream or practice that fits your current life, not some ideal schedule

How to communicate small shifts to your family so everyone adapts easily

The practical steps I used to reclaim my time and still show up fully as a mom

By the end, you’ll walk away with actionable, realistic ways to prioritize yourself while still being present for your kids.

Action Step: Identify one 10–20 minute block this week. Decide what self-care or small goal you’ll pursue during that time. Tell your family why it matters, and notice how it shifts your energy and focus.

If you’ve been putting your dreams or self-care on hold, I help moms create a real-life balance plan inside my 1:1 coaching. We uncover pockets of time, prioritize what matters, and make it happen without guilt or overwhelm.

Join our Facebook community for moms of tweens & teens prioritizing their time, sharing wins, and supporting each other.

If you’re tired of feeling stretched, scattered, and responsible for everything, this episode is your reset. I’m breaking down one time management strategy that helps overwhelmed midlife moms create breathing room, make confident decisions, and finally feel in control of their days again.

Learn more at westmetromom.com/coaching or join the free community, Midlife Moms Connect, for additional encouragement and resources.

If the holidays leave you exhausted, overcommitted, and wondering when YOU get to enjoy any of it—this episode is your reset.

I’m sharing the moment I realized I was running the whole holiday machine while everyone else was relaxing—and the simple shifts I made that brought my joy (and sanity) back.

You’ll walk away with:

The one boundary that immediately gives you breathing room

Two tiny decisions that protect your time without disappointing anyone

A simple way to say “Not right now”—minus the guilt

If you’re craving more peace, more presence, and more moments that actually matter… this episode will help you take back your December with confidence.

About Your Host:

Learn more at westmetromom.com/coaching or join the free community, Midlife Moms Connect, for additional encouragement and resources.

As your kids get older, your schedule shifts in a way no one really prepares you for. Suddenly you have little pockets of time—twenty minutes here, an hour there—and instead of feeling freeing, they can feel confusing, unproductive, or even guilt-filled. In this episode, we’re talking about why that happens, what it really means and how to move forward with confidence.

Whether you find yourself overcommitting because you feel like you “should”… or wasting time because you don’t know what you actually want anymore… neither reaction is a failure. They’re clues. And today, I’m breaking down how to understand them, what this new season is trying to tell you, and how to start using your time in ways that feel purposeful and good—without the pressure to do more.

You’ll also get one simple tactic you can use today to make those small pockets of time more intentional.

If you’re ready to feel less behind and more grounded in this in-between season of motherhood, this episode is for you.

About Your Host:

Learn more at westmetromom.com/coaching or join the free community, Midlife Moms Connect, for additional encouragement and resources.

In this episode of Midlife Unscripted, we continue our pre-empty nest series, exploring the delicate in-between stage of motherhood — that space where your kids are growing more independent, and the next season feels just around the corner.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I savoring these moments enough?” or “How can I keep growing my relationship with my kids as they change?” this episode is for you. I share a personal story about finding old keepsakes and the powerful reminder that slowing down and being present is the best way to prepare for what’s ahead.

You’ll learn five practical ways to stay grounded in the here and now: how to practice presence, make space for your emotions, start small with your own dreams, let go of comparison, and mark meaningful moments with your family. Plus, I offer a simple weekly reflection to help you pause, breathe, and truly savor this season.

Whether you’re feeling bittersweet, excited, or a little lost in the transition, this episode will encourage you to lean into today while gently preparing for tomorrow.

About Your Host:

Learn more at westmetromom.com or join the free community, Midlife Moms Connect, for additional encouragement and resources.

This episode of Midlife Unscripted continues our pre-empty nest series, but even if your kids aren’t ready to leave yet, these 5 steps will help you reclaim your time, rediscover your identity, and show up as your best self.

Join Sarah as she walks you through practical, simple ways to make time for yourself, reset your energy, and embrace your purpose as a midlife mom. Whether you’re juggling kids, household chaos, and ever-changing routines, these strategies will help you prioritize self-care, strengthen your faith, and feel more grounded in your identity.

About Your Host:

Learn more at westmetromom.com or join the free community, Midlife Moms Connect, for additional encouragement and resources.

Keywords: Midlife Mom, Mom identity, Rediscover yourself, Self-care for moms, Make time for yourself, Faith and purpose, Parenting teens, Pre-empty nest, Mom energy reset, Practical self-care

In this episode of Midlife Unscripted, host Sarah Colbert, creator of West Metro Mom, explores what it really feels like to enter the pre-empty nest stage — that quiet, in-between season when your kids still need you, but not quite in the same way.

If you’re a midlife mom navigating the early signs of the empty nest, this episode will help you rediscover your purpose, reimagine your identity, and find peace in the transition. Sarah shares her personal story of noticing the subtle shifts at home, learning to let go of control, and using new pockets of time to reconnect with herself.

Through honest reflection and practical encouragement, she reminds us that this season isn’t about losing your purpose — it’s about remembering who you are and what lights you up outside of motherhood.

Recognizing the Pre-Empty Nest Stage: Spot the subtle signs that your parenting role — and your daily rhythm — are changing.

Redefining Your Role: Why this transition can be a powerful chance to rediscover who you are beyond your kids.

Embracing the In-Between: How to hold space for both pride and sadness as your teens grow more independent.

Practical Shifts: Simple, meaningful ways to use newfound time for reflection, hobbies, or faith growth.

Mindset Matters: Why this isn’t the end of something, but the beginning of rediscovering you.

Sarah Colbert is the voice behind Midlife Unscripted, a podcast for moms navigating the in-between years — when your kids still need you, but not in the same way. A former journalist turned storyteller and mom of three teens, Sarah helps women rediscover purpose, peace, and confidence in the pre-empty nest years through honest stories, practical conversations, and a little humor along the way.

Learn more at westmetromom.com or follow along or Book a FREE call now. If you want more encouragement, join me in the Facebook community, Midlife Moms Connect, or email Sarah anytime at [email protected]

pre-empty nest stage, midlife moms, rediscover yourself, motherhood identity, empty nest transition, letting go, finding purpose again, midlife confidence, balance and change, parenting teens, motherhood growth, west metro mom, midlife unscripted podcast

Hey moms—are you in that in-between season, wondering what’s next now that your kids are getting older? In this episode, I chat with Karen Johnson, a midlife mom who gave up her career to raise her kids and is now figuring out life after kids, rediscovering herself, and exploring her next chapter. If you’re navigating the pre-empty nest, feeling stuck in your mom identity, or ready to start something new, this conversation is packed with honest encouragement and practical ideas for thriving in midlife.

If you loved this episode:

Grab Karen's book: What Do I Want to Be When They Grow Up? And Other Thoughts From a 40-Something Mom (purchase book now)

Connect with Karen on Facebook

Join me in the upcoming four-part series on the pre-empty nest season—starting next week!

Share your thoughts in my quick [market research survey]to help shape future episodes and resources for moms in this in-between season.

xo

Ever feel like you’ve lost touch with the things that used to light you up? I know that feeling all too well. In this episode, I’m sharing how we, as midlife moms, can reignite passions we’ve put on pause—whether that’s painting, journaling, running, baking, reading for fun, or simply doing something that makes us feel alive again.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, unmotivated, or like you’ve lost a piece of yourself in the busyness of motherhood, I want you to know—you’re not alone. Together, we’ll walk through simple, doable steps to rediscover your creativity, confidence, and sense of purpose—without guilt, pressure, or perfection.

I’ll share what happened when I finally picked up something I hadn't in a long time and how that moment reminded me that my joy matters. You’ll also learn how to carve out time for yourself, why reigniting your passion brings back energy and balance, and how small sparks of creativity can help you feel more grounded, fulfilled, and like you again.

This episode is for every midlife mom navigating identity shifts, burnout, or that strange “in-between” season of motherhood. You’ll leave encouraged to take the first small step toward rediscovering who you are—beyond your to-do list.

Do you ever feel like if you didn’t do it, it just wouldn’t get done? The laundry, the appointments, the meals, the moods, the mental checklists that never seem to end. It’s called the mental load of motherhood — and if you’re the default parent, it can feel like you’re carrying the world on your shoulders.

In this episode of Midlife Unscripted, we’re talking about how to share the weight without losing yourself. You’ll learn how to recognize the invisible load you’ve been carrying, why resentment sneaks in when it goes unspoken, and how to step out of “martyr mom” mode into real partnership at home.

Through honest conversation and faith-filled encouragement, we’ll look at what it means to let go of control, set healthy boundaries, and trust God to carry what we can’t. Because in this season of midlife motherhood, you don’t have to do it all — and you were never meant to.

If you’ve been feeling unseen, overwhelmed, or stuck in “I’ll just do it myself” mode, this episode will help you find peace, strength, and confidence again.

✨ You’ll learn how to:

Recognize and name the invisible load you’re carrying

Stop letting resentment quietly damage your relationships

Ask for help and create partnership in your home

Let go of guilt and trust God with what’s too heavy to carry alone

Tune in to rediscover your energy, confidence, and joy — one small shift at a time.

Listen now and share this episode with a mom friend who’s been carrying it all — because we’re not meant to do motherhood alone.

xo

If you want more encouragement, join me in my free Facebook community, Midlife Moms Connect, or email me anytime at [email protected]