This episode came from a quiet moment on a family trip—my first without my boys. As I walked onto the ferry alone, I felt the full weight of what it means to be a mom in the teen and empty nest years. The emotional space once filled with cuddles and chaos is quieter now. And while I cherish the independence my kids are building, I’m also discovering what it means to be truly alone—with my thoughts, my memories, and myself.

This episode is for you if:

You’ve ever felt the ache of watching your teen pull away

You’re navigating the loneliness that sneaks in when they start spending more time behind closed doors—or out of the house altogether

You’re feeling anxious or untethered in this new chapter and need a mindset shift to reconnect with your own emotional truth

We explore how mom guilt, overthinking, and our brain’s built-in negativity bias make this season harder than it needs to be—and what it really means to let go, not just of your kids, but of the pressure to always feel okay. If you’ve been running from your own thoughts, this episode will guide you toward the one person who holds the key to calm, confidence, and fulfillment in this season: you.

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.