The Almost Empty Nest—with Small Jar Coach

Available Episodes

5 of 151

The Worst-Case Scenario Trap: Anxiety, Teens, and the Empty Nest Spiral | Mindset Trap #7 | Ep. 151
We’re continuing the Empty Nest Mindset Trap series this week with one of the most common and exhausting patterns I see in anxious moms: worst-case scenario thinking. Maybe your teen’s been struggling in school for a while… or they’ve been more distant lately. The concerns are real—but your brain takes that evidence and spins it into something so much bigger, imagining futures that feel terrifying and out of your control. I’ve been there too, lying awake at night trying to solve problems that haven’t even happened yet. In this episode, I’ll show you why your mind goes to the worst-case, how this spiral quietly steals your peace, and how to step out of the fear and back into calm, connection, and confidence—right now. Download a free Mindset Trap Detector here: https://www.thesmalljar.com/detector If you're interested in exploring Small Jar's Mom 2.0 Coaching Program, visit https://www.thesmalljar.com/Mom-2-0.
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31:49
The Fear of Failing Your Teen - A College Decision Wake-Up Call for Anxious Moms | Ep. 150
This episode is for every anxious, almost empty nest mom whose heart is tangled up in her teen’s future. Whether you're in the thick of college admissions or simply watching your child make choices that feel high-stakes, I promise—you’re not alone. I share my own raw experience of watching my son navigate college decisions and the gut-punch of feeling powerless. But this isn’t just a conversation about college. It’s about the fear of failure—not just for our teens, but our own fear of failing them. And how that fear keeps so many of us stuck in anxiety, control, and self-doubt. We’ll explore how to let go, how to love without needing to fix, and why reclaiming your emotional peace is the most powerful gift you can give—to your teen, and to yourself. If you’re a mom who lies awake at night wondering if you’ve done enough…this episode is for you. Download a free Mindset Trap Detector here: https://www.thesmalljar.com/detector If you're interested in exploring Small Jar's Mom 2.0 Coaching Program, visit https://www.thesmalljar.com/Mom-2-0.
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34:16
The Guilt That Keeps You Stuck as an Almost Empty Nest Mom | Mindset Trap #6 | Ep. 149
MINDSET TRAPS OF THE EMPTY NEST - Trap #6 - Personalization Ever feel like your teen’s bad mood is somehow your fault? In this episode of The Almost Empty Nest Podcast, I’m diving deep into one of the most painful and sneaky mindset traps we moms fall into—personalization. It’s that gut-wrenching habit of making our kids’ struggles, choices, and emotions mean something about us. I’ve lived it, I’ve coached through it, and I’ve seen how it quietly steals our peace and strains our connection with our kids. But here’s the truth: this trap isn’t who you are—it’s just a pattern your brain has learned. And once you see it, you can start to let it go. Join me for a heartfelt look at how to release the guilt, reclaim your power, and show up with the love and presence you’ve always wanted to give. Download a free Mindset Trap Detector here: https://www.thesmalljar.com/detector If you're interested in exploring Small Jar's Mom 2.0 Coaching Program, visit https://www.thesmalljar.com/Mom-2-0.
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26:19
When Your Teen Starts Pulling Away: How to Let Go without Losing Connection | Ep. 148
Have you ever felt like you're living in two worlds at once—still deep in the trenches of motherhood while also staring down an almost-empty nest? I know I have. In this episode, I dive into what I call the Empty Nest Straddle—that long, messy, emotional transition where you're constantly shifting between holding on and letting go. It’s the push and pull of still being needed while feeling your child drift into their own independence. And if you’ve ever wrestled with uncertainty, control, or the fear of what comes next for you, you’re not alone. I’ll share why this transition feels so hard, the mindset traps that make it even harder, and how we can start trusting ourselves to navigate this season with more peace, confidence, and clarity. Download a free Mindset Trap Detector here: https://www.thesmalljar.com/detector If you're interested in exploring Small Jar's Mom 2.0 Coaching Program, visit https://www.thesmalljar.com/Mom-2-0.
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30:39
When Being A Good Mom Still Feels Like It's Not Enough | Mindset Trap #5 | Ep. 147
MINDSET TRAPS OF THE EMPTY NEST - Trap #5 - Perfectionism In this episode, I’m digging into one of the most exhausting and invisible traps so many of us fall into—perfectionism. You might think you're just trying to do your best, but what if that constant pressure to get it all right is actually making motherhood—and life—so much harder than it has to be? I’ll share how perfectionism shows up in ways you might not expect, how it affects your relationship with your teen, and how it keeps you stuck in fear and self-doubt. Most importantly, I’ll show you how to begin letting go of this impossible standard so you can step into more peace, trust, and confidence as both a mom and a woman in your next chapter. Download a free Mindset Trap Detector here: https://www.thesmalljar.com/detector If you're interested in exploring Small Jar's Mom 2.0 Coaching Program, visit https://www.thesmalljar.com/Mom-2-0.
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30:46