As a mom of teens, the holidays hit differently now. I want to create joy, tradition, and connection—but underneath the twinkling lights is a quiet pressure that leaves me anxious, overwhelmed, and often carrying the emotional burden alone. In this episode, I open up about the deep ambivalence that so many moms feel this time of year: the joy and the dread, the gratitude and the guilt, the connection and the disconnection—all swirling in the same moment.

We’ll explore how this mindset of perfectionism and over-responsibility quietly pulls us out of the present, fuels overthinking, and disconnects us from the very peace we’re chasing. You’ll learn why emotional regulation is the foundation for letting go of unrealistic expectations and how embracing both the magic and the mess is the real path to feeling more grounded.

This conversation is for any mom navigating the complexity of parenting teens and young adults through the holidays—and longing to feel more present, more calm, and more like herself.

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.