As a mom of teens, I used to spend so much time trying to read between the lines—guessing what my kids were thinking, how they were feeling, and whether I’d done something wrong. It felt like I was constantly walking on eggshells, trying to stay ahead of an emotional explosion or fix something I didn’t even fully understand. That’s the mindset trap of mind reading, and it’s one of the biggest sources of anxiety, guilt, and overthinking for moms in the parenting-teen and empty nest seasons.

In this episode, I unpack why this trap is so sneaky and exhausting—how it disconnects us from our kids and erodes our confidence as moms. You’ll learn how emotional regulation and mindset shifts can help you stop making assumptions, start letting go of what you can’t control, and build real connection with your teen instead.

If you're tired of second-guessing yourself, jumping to conclusions, or spinning in stories that leave you feeling anxious or disconnected, this episode is your invitation to pause, breathe, and trust what's true.

Curious about coaching with Small Jar?  Check out our Mom 2.0 coaching program: www.thesmalljar.com/Mom-2-0 

This empowering podcast offers life coaching for moms and parenting support for midlife mothers raising teens as they approach the empty nest, teaching them how to let go of control, stop overthinking, and shift their mindset, while also helping them set boundaries, improve communication, reduce anxiety, release mom guilt, and find purpose in the evolving journey of parenting teens and motherhood.