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The Almost Empty NestLetting Go, Redefined: Parenting Teens and Finding Yourself Againwith Small Jar CoachAuthor: Master Coach Jennifer Collins
Are you stuck between wanting to guide your teen or college kid and knowing its time to start letting go? Welcome to The Almost Empty Nest Podcast, where moms of teens and college kids reframe what letting go really means and stop second-guessing themselves to feel more connected, confident, and at peace in this chapter of motherhood. Each week, youll learn how to: Break free from mindset traps like catastrophizing, mom guilt, and the illusion of control Build a stronger relationship with your teeneven when they pull away or test boundaries Strengthen your self-trust as you set boundaries, let go of anxiety, and explore your own purpose beyond parenting Hosted by master life coachand mom of two college kidsJennifer Collins, this show offers grounded, relatable support and mindset shifts to help you stop overthinking and start showing up as the mom and woman you truly want to be. Start with listener favorite Episode 85: The Empty Nest Straddle The Emotional Tug of Parenting Teens and Facing the Empty Nest. Language: en Genres: Education, Kids & Family, Parenting, Self-Improvement Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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“I Miss Being Needed”—Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 282
Tuesday, 25 August, 2026
Do you ever miss being needed by your big kid? When I think about the empty nest, and even those times when my boys were still at home, what surprises me most isn’t just the quiet house or the extra time on my hands. It’s how much I miss being needed. Parenting teens and young adults can feel like a constant practice of letting go — and sometimes it hurts more than we expect. If you’re a mom in this season, you probably know the ache I’m talking about. The texts that go unanswered, the eye rolls when you offer advice, the long weekends where you wait around “just in case” they need you. It’s easy to slip into overthinking, questioning yourself, and wondering if your value as a mom is fading right along with their dependence on you. In this episode, I share a story about my son coming home from college, and how in one moment I felt the rush of being needed again, only to be reminded days later of the distance and independence that comes with this stage. Through that story, we’ll look at the deeper layers — why missing being needed stirs up grief, shame, and fear, and how mindset traps like all-or-nothing thinking and personalization can make it even harder. If you’ve been missing the days when being needed was constant and obvious, this conversation is for you. Because even when our kids don’t show it, the bond is still there. And learning to trust that bond is what makes space for you to step into your next chapter with clarity and confidence. 💡 Interested in learning more about how to create peace, confidence and connection as you raise and launch your teen, join me for my next free masterclass: https://www.thesmalljar.com/class 💪 Curious about coaching with Small Jar? Check out our Mom 2.0 coaching programs (both 1:1 and group): 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 jennifer@thesmalljar.com. 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.
