The Almost Empty Nest—Letting Go, Redefined: Parenting Teens and Finding Yourself Again—with Small Jar Coach

Previously the Small Jar Podcast

This week, I was in it—completely flooded by frustration, anxiety, guilt, regret, and exhaustion. As a mom of teens, I’m used to feeling a lot, but sometimes the wave hits harder than usual. In this episode, I’m sharing my experience with emotional overwhelm—and what I’m learning about letting go of the guilt and shame that so often come with it.

We’ll talk about how reacting to or avoiding our emotions—whether through snapping, crying, or numbing with wine or food—only compounds the pain. And I’ll show you what it looks like to hold space for your feelings, shift your mindset, and reclaim your emotional power without trying to fix everything.

I dive into:

Why moms feel like we have to hold it all together—and what happens when we can’t

How to recognize and release the shame cycle around emotional regulation

The myth that your feelings mean something is wrong

A new way to approach boundaries, self-trust, and being present—even when it’s messy

If you’ve ever felt like your emotions were “too much,” this is your permission to feel all of it and still be whole. This is how we reclaim peace, confidence, and connection—in parenting, in motherhood, and within ourselves.

🎯 Want to take this work deeper? Save your seat for the next free masterclass—click here to sign up: https://www.thesmalljar.com/class.

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

❓ Have questions or want to share your feedback? I'd love to hear from you! You can email me at [email protected]. 

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.

Previously the Small Jar Podcast

As moms of teens or young adults, we’re already juggling emotional labor, overthinking, and the exhausting process of letting go. But when it comes to love and marriage, that emotional weight gets even heavier—especially in the empty nest years when we suddenly have more time and space to reflect on what’s working… and what isn’t.

In this vulnerable episode, I explore the emotional complexity of long-term relationships and what happens when our idea of love doesn't match our reality. Whether you’re navigating resentment, guilt, loneliness, or simply questioning what connection is supposed to look like at this stage of life, you’re not alone.

We’ll talk about:

How your mindset impacts your emotional experience more than your partner’s behavior

Why expectations, boundaries, and unspoken “manuals” leave us feeling unseen

What to do when love feels like pressure, and how to separate your self-worth from someone else’s response

How to regulate your emotions, release the need to control others, and reclaim joy and emotional fulfillment

If you’ve been overthinking your relationship, stuck in cycles of emotional blame, or craving deeper connection but don’t know how to ask for it—this episode will help you take your power back and love more honestly, starting with yourself.

🎯 Want to take this work deeper? Save your seat for the next free masterclass—click here to sign up: https://www.thesmalljar.com/class.

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

❓ Have questions or want to share your feedback? I'd love to hear from you! You can email me at [email protected]. 

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.

Previously the Small Jar Podcast

Motivation can feel like a mystery—especially when you're a mom juggling teens, college kids, work, and the emotional weight of an almost empty nest. In this episode, I challenge the idea that we need to “feel motivated” before taking action on our dreams.

Instead, I share what I've learned about showing up when you don’t feel inspired, how to find purpose in the mundane, and why letting go of perfection and control is essential for building consistency and confidence. This isn’t about pushing harder. It’s about shifting your mindset to see that motivation is a choice, not a feeling.

We’ll talk about:

Why motivation is misunderstood—and how to redefine it

What holds moms back from pursuing goals during this transitional season

How to stop waiting for inspiration and start trusting yourself

The emotional mindset shifts that can reduce anxiety and overthinking

Small, doable steps that lead to big transformation

If you’ve been telling yourself, “I just don’t have the time or energy,” this episode will help you reclaim your agency and reconnect with your dreams—without making it all so hard.

🎯 Want to take this work deeper? Save your seat for the next free masterclass—click here to sign up: https://www.thesmalljar.com/class.

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

❓ Have questions or want to share your feedback? I'd love to hear from you! You can email me at [email protected]. 

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.

Previously the Small Jar Podcast

I used to believe it was my job to make sure my kids reached their full potential—that if I just parented “right,” I could protect them from mistakes, failure, and regret. But somewhere along the way, I realized that belief was costing me peace, connection, and even my relationship with my teens. In this episode, I share what happens when we let go of the illusion that we can control the outcome and begin trusting our children’s path—even when it looks different than we imagined. You’ll hear the mindset traps that keep us stuck, how to shift from fear to curiosity, and how letting go doesn’t mean giving up—it means growing up alongside them.

🎯 Want to take this work deeper? Save your seat for the next free masterclass—click here to sign up: https://www.thesmalljar.com/class.

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

❓ Have questions or want to share your feedback? I'd love to hear from you! You can email me at [email protected]. 

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.

Previously the Small Jar Podcast

This season of motherhood can feel like one long goodbye—letting go of our kids, our roles, our bodies, our sense of purpose. I’ve felt it deeply, and so have many of the moms I work with. But here’s the truth I’ve discovered: sometimes, letting go isn’t just about loss. It’s the beginning of something new. In this very first episode, I share what it means to release the stories we’ve told ourselves—about our worth, our limitations, and our place in the world—and how we can step into a new chapter of motherhood, identity, and purpose with clarity and courage. If you’re standing at the edge of change, this is your invitation to start again.

🎯 Want to take this work deeper? Save your seat for the next free masterclass—click here to sign up: https://www.thesmalljar.com/class.

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

❓ Have questions or want to share your feedback? I'd love to hear from you! You can email me at [email protected]. 

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.