The Small Jar - Helping Moms Find Their Purpose and Power

The Road to the Empty Nest: Navigating the Straddle Between Holding On and Letting Go

You want nothing more than for your teen to be safe, happy, and successful—you’ve spent years guiding, protecting, and supporting them with everything you have. But deep down, you also want peace, happiness, and a sense of purpose for yourself.

As your child grows up, life becomes more complex. Friendships. School. Dating. Alcohol. Drugs. College. You do everything in your power to guide them, but no matter how hard you try, you can’t control their choices, guarantee their happiness, or shield them from every mistake.

At the same time, you feel the shift. They need you less and less as they push for independence, inching closer to the day when they’ll be on their own.

You’re caught in a constant emotional tug-of-war—proud and relieved when they thrive, anxious and helpless when they struggle. Some days, you feel deeply connected. Other days, they pull away, and you’re left wondering:

“Who am I now? What is my role in their life… and in my own?”

This is what we call the Empty Nest Straddle—that space between holding on and letting go.

One foot is still in the world of daily motherhood—guiding, supporting, and worrying about your child.
The other foot is stepping into an unfamiliar place—one where your child needs you differently, and you need to rediscover yourself.

And as your teen seems to need you less, something else happens: you have more time to think about yourself—maybe for the first time in years. You realize how much of your identity has been wrapped up in raising your child. And now, you find yourself asking:

"Who am I outside of being a mom?"

If you’re feeling lost, stuck, or unsure how to navigate this transition, you are not alone.

Here’s the truth: You don’t have to “let go” of your child—but you do have an opportunity to reconnect with yourself.

The next chapter of your life isn’t about losing your role as a mom. It’s about redefining it—while creating a life that feels deeply fulfilling for you, too.

Your Master Coach

My name is Jennifer Collins, and I have absolutely no doubt that you love your teen and are doing your absolute best. But there are a few things standing in your way: Anxiety. Frustration. Guilt. Hurt. Sadness.

I am right there with you, in what I call the "Empty Nest Straddle"...navigating how best to support my teen sons, and also learning how to create more peace and happiness in my own life. In my journey, I have discovered tools that have given me the power to step off the roller coaster of painful emotions and create more peace, confidence, and trust in myself.

You have all of these tools already within you...and I will show you.

To get started, take the Mom Archetype Quiz and start learning about your unique strengths and gifts as a mom. Also, check out the Small Jar Podcast, where I explore life with teens, the transition to the empty nest, and everything in between.

You have more power than you think you do, my friend.

Let Go So Your Teen Can Fly Masterclass

Join me for this free masterclass to learn the art of allowing your teen to be independent without letting go of your connection and desire to support them.

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