The Almost Empty Nest Podcast
Hosted by Master Coach Jennifer Collins
This podcast is for the mom of a teen or adult kid...watching them pull away, push back or struggle...and wondering if either of you is ready for what’s next. If you’re feeling anxious, frustrated or unsure how to find the right balance of holding on and letting go, you’re not alone. Every Wednesday and Saturday morning, I’ll bring you mindset tools, coaching insights, and honest reflections to help you let go with love, connect even more with your big kid, and embrace what’s next for both of you with calm, confidence, and clarity.
This isn't just about guiding your big kid's journey—it's about rediscovering your own.
Explore the Full Mindset Trap Series
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🎧 20 min listen
Parenting Teens Through Mental Health Struggles | Ep. 231
🎧 20 min listen
“I’m Walking on Eggshells with My Big Kid”—Thoughts Moms are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 230
🎧 21 min listen
Who Is Your Mom 2.0? Being the Mom You Want to Be | Ep. 229
🎧 21 min listen
Thoughts Moms are Ashamed They Think “My Kid Was Struggling and I Missed It” | Ep. 228
🎧 22 min listen
Mindset Traps of Parenting Teens and the Empty Nest—Trap #6: Personalization | Ep. 227
🎧 21 min listen
"I'm Relieved When My Kid Isn't Home" —Thoughts Moms Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 226
🎧 22 min listen
How to Let Go of Control without Feeling Like You're Giving Up | Ep. 225
🎧 19 min listen
"My Kid Doesn't Care How I Feel" —Thoughts Moms Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 224
🎧 26 min listen
Advice or Boundaries: What to Do When Your Teen Stops Listening | Ep. 223
🎧 20 min listen
"I Don't Feel Close to My Kid Anymore" —Thoughts Moms Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 222
🎧 24 min listen
Mindset Traps of Parenting Teens and the Empty Nest—Trap #5: Perfectionism | Ep. 221
🎧 19 min listen
"I'm the Only One Who Cares" —Thoughts Moms Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 220
🎧 26 min listen
Letting Go as Your Kids Grow Up—Sitting with the Discomfort of Change | Ep. 219
🎧 22 min listen
"I Don't Know What I Want Anymore"—Thoughts Moms Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 218
🎧 25 min listen
When Your Big Kid is Failing to Launch—Boundaries Aren't the Real Problem | Ep. 217
🎧 17 min listen
"I Thought I'd Be Used To This"—Thoughts Moms Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 216
🎧 28 min listen
Mindset Traps of Parenting Teens and the Empty Nest—#4: Illusion of Control | Ep. 215
🎧 19 min listen
"Nothing Changed This Year—Thoughts Moms Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 214
🎧 21 min listen
Who Do You Want To Be in 2026? | Ep. 213
🎧 19 min listen
"I'm Already Disappointed by the Holidays"—Thoughts Moms Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 212
🎧 19 min listen
Three Gifts for Moms Parenting Teens and Adult Kids | Ep. 211
🎧 18 min listen
"My Teen Will Ruin My Holiday" — Thoughts Moms Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 210
🎧 23 min listen
Radical Acceptance Part II—Four Steps to Reclaim Your Power | Ep. 209
🎧 24 min listen
"I'm Doing Everything Wrong" —Thoughts Moms Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 208
🎧 25 min listen
Parenting Teens in the College Process—Three Lessons That Go Far Beyond Early Decision | Ep 207
🎧 23 min listen
"I'm Not Proud of My Teen Sometimes" —Thoughts Moms Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 206
🎧 20 min listen
Mindset Traps of Parenting Teens and the Empty Nest—#3: Comparison Trap | Ep. 205
🎧 20 min listen
"I Love (and Hate) the Holidays" —Thoughts Moms Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 204
🎧 19 min listen
Radical Acceptance: The Power of Letting Go When Parenting Teens Gets Hard | Ep. 203
🎧 20 min listen
"My Teen Doesn't Appreciate Everything I Do” —Thoughts Moms Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 202
🎧 24 min listen
When Your Big Kid Shares Too Much…Or Not Enough | Ep. 201
🎧 18 min listen
"My Teen Thinks I'm the Problem” —Thoughts Moms Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 200
🎧 24 min listen
Mindset Traps of Parenting Teens and the Empty Nest—#2: All or Nothing | Ep. 199
🎧 23 min listen
"I Don't Like the Person I've Become” —Thoughts Moms Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 198
🎧 29 min listen
What the College Process Taught Me About Parenting Teens (and Letting Go) | Ep 197
🎧 22 min listen
"My Teen Disrespects My Boundaries” —Thoughts Moms Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 196
🎧 25 min listen
Mindset Traps of Parenting Teens and the Empty Nest—#1: Emotional Reasoning | Ep. 195
🎧 22 min listen
Thoughts Moms Are Ashamed They Think—“I Feel Invisible” | Ep. 194
🎧 24 min listen
Mindset Traps of Parenting Teens and the Empty Nest—The Real Reason We Feel So Anxious | Ep. 193
🎧 20 min listen
“I'm Codependent on My Kids”—Thoughts Moms Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 192
🎧 22 min listen
Parenting Teens Without Pain - What If It's Not Too Good To Be True? | Ep. 191
🎧 23 min listen
“My Husband Shuts Me Down”—Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 190
🎧 22 min listen
When Being Just a Mom No Longer Feels Enough While Raising Teens or in the Empty Nest | Ep. 189
🎧 22 min listen
“I Miss Being Needed”—Thoughts Moms Parenting Teens Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 188
🎧 23 min listen
Parenting Teens through Screen Time Struggles | Ep. 187
🎧 20 min listen
"My Teen Walks All Over Me"—Thoughts Moms Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 186
🎧 25 min listen
Invisible Contracts We Use When Parenting Teens | Ep. 185
🎧 20 min listen
“I Should Be More Grateful”—Thoughts Moms Are Ashamed They Think | | Ep. 184
🎧 22 min listen
Emotional Overwhelm of Parenting Teens and the Empty Nest| Ep. 183
🎧 22 min listen
“The House Is So Quiet”—Thoughts Moms Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 182
🎧 26 min listen
Mindset Traps of the Empty Nest - #13 - Emotional Outsourcing | Ep. 181
🎧 17 min listen
“Thank God They're Back in School”—Thoughts Moms Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 180
🎧 25 min listen
Letting Go of How Your Teen Reaches Their Potential | Ep. 179
🎧 18 min listen
“My Teen Is Entitled”—Thoughts Moms Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 178
🎧 25 min listen
The Real Emotions Behind the Empty Nest | Ep. 177
🎧 21 min listen
“I Don't Know How”—Thoughts Moms Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 176
🎧 23 min listen
Rebuild Trust with Your Teen — Letting Go Without Losing Connection | Ep. 175
🎧 17 min listen
“Nobody Listens to Me”—Thoughts Moms Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 174
🎧 23 min listen
I Don’t Want to Miss This—Staying Present in Ups and Downs | Ep. 173
🎧 17 min listen
“I'm Not a Confident Person”—Thoughts Moms Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 172
🎧 30 min listen
Navigating College Drop-Off—Six Mindset Shifts for Moms | Ep. 171
🎧 17 min listen
“My Teen Is Lazy”—Thoughts Moms Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 170
🎧 19 min listen
Why Vacation Feels So Hard For Moms of Teens | Ep. 169
🎧 15 min listen
“I'm Just a Mom”—Thoughts Moms Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 168
🎧 30 min listen
Do Chores Really Make Kids More Successful? - What Research Says | Ep. 167
🎧 15 min listen
"My Kid Doesn't Like Me" | Thoughts Moms Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 166
🎧 25 min listen
Parenting Teens in the Empty Nest Straddle - Letting Go Without Losing | Ep. 165
🎧 23 min listen
"I'm Afraid I Messed My Kid Up" | Thoughts Moms Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 164
🎧 31 min listen
4 Steps to Manage the Anxiety of Raising Teens | Ep. 163
🎧 27 min listen
Hard to Break Habits, Explained - How to Stop Nagging | Ep. 161
🎧 19 min listen
"I Don't Even Like My Kid" | Thoughts Moms Are Ashamed They Think | Ep. 162
🎧 26 min listen
Mindset Traps of the Empty Nest - #12 - Approval Trap | Ep. 160
🎧 30 min listen
Mindset Traps of the Empty Nest - #11 - Resisting Reality | Ep. 159
🎧 30 min listen
You Don't Have to Let Go of Summer Expectations | Ep. 158
🎧 31 min listen
Mindset Traps of the Empty Nest - #10 - Identity Crisis | Ep. 157
🎧 26 min listen
What I've Learned About Letting Go | Ep. 156
🎧 27 min listen
Mindset Traps of the Empty Nest - #9 - The Validation Trap | Ep. 155
🎧 24 min listen
Moms of Teens: Stop Waiting to Feel Celebrated | Ep. 154
🎧 24 min listen
Mindset Traps of the Empty Nest - #8 - The "Should" Trap | Ep. 153
🎧 26 min listen
The Real Reason Boundaries Feel So Hard for Moms of Teens | Ep. 152
🎧 32 min listen
Mindset Traps of the Empty Nest - #7 - Worst-Case Scenario | Ep. 151
🎧 34 min listen
The Fear of Failing Your Teen - A Wake-Up Call | Ep. 150
🎧 26 min listen
Mindset Traps of the Empty Nest - #6 - Personalization | Ep. 149
🎧 31 min listen
When Your Teen Starts Pulling Away | Ep. 148
🎧 31 min listen
Mindset Traps of the Empty Nest - #5 - Perfectionism | Ep. 147
🎧 31 min listen
Can't Wait for the Empty Nest? | Ep. 146
🎧 32 min listen
Mindset Traps of the Empty Nest - #4 - Illusion of Control | Ep. 145
🎧 31 min listen
The Last 100 Days Before Graduation | Ep. 144
🎧 26 min listen
Mindset Traps of the Empty Nest - #3 - Comparison Trap | Ep. 143
🎧 28 min listen
Redefining Self-Awareness | Ep. 142
🎧 30 min listen
Mindset Traps of the Empty Nest - #2 - All or Nothing Thinking | Ep. 141
🎧 28 min listen
When Life Gets Hard | Ep. 140
🎧 31 min listen
Mindset Traps of the Empty Nest - #1 - Emotional Rollercoaster | Ep. 139
🎧 28 min listen
What Is A Mindset Trap? | Ep. 138
🎧 27 min listen
Empty Nest Mindset Traps - Intro Part III - Keeping It Simple | Ep. 137
🎧 26 min listen
Empty Nest Mindset Traps - Intro Part II - Avoiding Pain | Ep. 136
🎧 25 min listen
Who Will You Be in 2025? | Ep. 135
🎧 34 min listen
Empty Nest Mindset Traps - Intro Part I | Seeking Comfort | Ep. 134
🎧 20 min listen
Letting Go of Holiday Pressure: How Moms of Teen Can Redefine Joy | Ep. 133
🎧 22 min listen
Unconditional Connection with Your Teen | Ep. 132
🎧 25 min listen
A Gift for My Teen | Ep. 131
🎧 23 min listen
Choosing Peace | Ep. 130
🎧 24 min listen
ONE Obstacle - Overcoming Dread | Ep. 129
🎧 29 min listen
ONE Obstacle - Overcoming Overwhelm | Ep. 128
🎧 25 min listen
ONE Obstacle Series - Overcoming Disappointment | Ep. 127
🎧 26 min listen
One Obstacle Series - Overcoming Worry | Ep. 126
🎧 27 min listen
The ONE Obstacle Holding You Back from a Happy Life | Ep. 125
🎧 27 min listen
Embracing THIS Moment | Ep. 124
🎧 28 min listen
Who's Taking Care of You? | Ep. 123
🎧 28 min listen
Letting Go | Ep. 122
🎧 26 min listen
"I Don't Know" Mindset | Ep. 121
🎧 24 min listen
Creating Emotional Intention | Ep. 120
🎧 23 min listen
Having Your Own Back | Ep. 119
🎧 27 min listen
The Advice You Need to Hear | Ep. 118
🎧 24 min listen
Senior Year | Ep. 117
🎧 24 min listen
What Creates Your Emotions | Ep. 116
🎧 28 min listen
The Open Nest - Reframing the Empty Nest | Ep. 115
🎧 26 min listen
NOT More College Move-In Advice | Ep. 114
🎧 20 min listen
How Do You Want to Feel in Your Life? | Ep. 113
🎧 23 min listen
Imperfect AND Beautiful | Ep. 112
🎧 27 min listen
Who You Want To Be | Ep. 111
🎧 27 min listen
Managing the Anxiety of Raising Teens | Ep. 110
🎧 27 min listen
Mom Archetype #4 - The Mentor | Ep. 109
🎧 27 min listen
Mom Archetype #3 - The Nurturer | Ep. 108
🎧 29 min listen
Archetype #1-The Guardian | Ep. 104
🎧 31 min listen
Mom Archetype #2 - The Achiever | Ep. 107
🎧 28 min listen
Overwhelmed by the End of the School Year? | Ep. 105
🎧 34 min listen
Trusting Yourself to Move Forward | Ep 106
🎧 24 min listen
What's Your Mom Archetype? | Ep. 103
🎧 30 min listen
Lessons I Wish I Knew Sooner | Ep. 102
🎧 30 min listen
Regret | Ep. 101
🎧 29 min listen
The Managed Mindset | Ep. 100
🎧 26 min listen
The Judgment Mindset Type | Ep. 99
🎧 27 min listen
The Validation-Seeking Mindset Type | Ep. 98
🎧 25 min listen
The L.O.V.E. Technique | Ep. 97
🎧 29 min listen
The Fix-It Mindset Type | Ep. 96
🎧 25 min listen
The Worry Mindset Type | Ep. 95
🎧 29 min listen
Mindset Trap Primer | Ep. 94
🎧 26 min listen
I Am Enough | Ep. 93
🎧 24 min listen
Debunking the Empty Nest Syndrome | Ep. 92
🎧 27 min listen
Embracing Mindset Traps | Ep. 91
🎧 31 min listen
Mindset Trap #14 - Illusion of Control | Ep. 90
🎧 26 min listen
Mindset Trap #13 - Overgeneralization | Ep. 89
🎧 25 min listen
Relationship Goals - True Love | Ep. 88
🎧 24 min listen
Relationship Goals: Connection and Friendship | Ep. 87
🎧 30 min listen
Relationship Goals - Reconnecting with your Teen | Ep. 86
🎧 25 min listen
The Empty Nest Straddle | Ep. 85
🎧 25 min listen
Habit Goals | Ep. 84
🎧 23 min listen
Body Goals | Ep. 83
🎧 24 min listen
Who Will You Be in 2024? | Ep. 82
🎧 30 min listen
12 Traps of the Holidays | Ep. 81
🎧 25 min listen
Mindset Trap #12 - Mind-Reading | Ep. 80
🎧 25 min listen
Mindset Trap # 11 - Fear of the Unknown | Ep. 79
🎧 22 min listen
Mindset Trap #10 - Labeling | Ep. 78
🎧 24 min listen
Being Present - Part II | Ep. 77
🎧 27 min listen
Being Present - Part I | Ep. 76
🎧 26 min listen
The College Visit | Ep. 75
🎧 26 min listen
Mindset Trap #9 - Ruled by Emotion | Ep. 74
🎧 24 min listen
Mindset Trap #8 - Identity Crisis | Ep. 73
🎧 60 min listen
Mindset of Raising Girls vs. Boys with Guest Ali Flynn | Ep. 72
🎧 24 min listen
Mindset Trap #7 - Personalization (aka Mom Guilt) | Ep. 71
🎧 26 min listen
Mindset Trap #6 - Perfectionism | Ep. 70
🎧 23 min listen
Mindset Trap #5 - All or Nothing Thinking | Ep. 69
🎧 25 min listen
Mindset Trap #4 - Comparison Trap | Ep. 68
🎧 21 min listen
Mindset Trap #3 - Validation Seeking | Ep. 67
🎧 25 min listen
Mindset Trap #2- Catastrophizing | Ep. 66
🎧 25 min listen
Mindset Trap #1 - Confirmation Bias | Ep. 65
🎧 21 min listen
Running Out of Time | Ep. 64
🎧 24 min listen
Your Vision for Success as a Mom | Ep. 63
🎧 53 min listen
Lifelong Connection with Your Kids - Guest Esther Joy Goetz | Ep. 62
🎧 22 min listen
Why You Can't Let Yourself Off the Hook | Ep. 61
🎧 22 min listen
Preparing for College Move-In Day | Ep. 60
🎧 30 min listen
The Dream Teen Check List - Special Group Coaching Edition | Ep. 59
🎧 22 min listen
Thinking Happy Thoughts | Ep. 58
🎧 19 min listen
Alone with Yourself | Ep. 57
🎧 23 min listen
What You Really Want | Ep. 56
🎧 20 min listen
Redefining Your Purpose in the Empty Nest | Ep. 55
🎧 24 min listen
Resentment | Ep. 54
🎧 20 min listen
When Kids Return to the Nest | Ep. 53
🎧 20 min listen
Getting Your Teen to Listen | Ep. 52
🎧 20 min listen
Graduation Day | Ep. 51
🎧 21 min listen
You Can't Afford NOT to Invest in Yourself | Ep. 50
🎧 22 min listen
Love Letters to Moms | Ep. 49
🎧 22 min listen
Setting Boundaries | Ep. 48
🎧 21 min listen
For Better or for Worse | Ep. 47
🎧 26 min listen
Stress of the College Process with Guest Adam Materasso | Ep. 46
🎧 20 min listen
Don't Let Yourself Be Bullied | Ep. 45
🎧 20 min listen
Get Out of "Doing Jail" | Ep. 44
🎧 22 min listen
Maybe We Should Be Mad | Ep. 43
🎧 22 min listen
People Pleasing My Kids Ep. 42
🎧 20 min listen
Writing a New Story of Who You Want to Be | Ep. 41
🎧 23 min listen
Managing the Anxiety of Raising Teens | Ep. 40
🎧 22 min listen
This Is It. The Last 100 | Ep. 39
🎧 23 min listen
The Reason Parenting Teens Is So Hard | Ep. 38
🎧 24 min listen
Is It Possible to Feel Unconditional Love? | Ep. 37
🎧 23 min listen
Teen Love | Ep. 36
🎧 22 min listen
Making a Decision to Move Toward Your Goal | Ep. 35
🎧 24 min listen
Breaking Drinking Habits | Ep. 34
🎧 22 min listen
Mom Guilt | Ep. 33
🎧 23 min listen
Taking Control of Your Emotions | Ep. 32
🎧 24 min listen
Who Will You Be in 2023? | Ep. 31
🎧 22 min listen
When Kids Come Home for the Holidays | Ep. 30
🎧 23 min listen
Creating Purpose from Pain | Ep. 29
🎧 17 min listen
Early Decision Anxiety | Ep. 28
🎧 26 min listen
Feeling Better about the Worst Case Scenario | Ep. 27
🎧 24 min listen
Making Room for Joy | Ep. 26
🎧 20 min listen
Allowing Pain | Ep. 25
🎧 23 min listen
Letting Go So Your Child Can Fly | Ep. 24
🎧 23 min listen
Reframing the Side Hustle | Ep. 23
🎧 24 min listen
College Move-In Day | Ep. 22
🎧 21 min listen
Peace and Loneliness in the Empty Nest | Ep. 21
🎧 23 min listen
Job Satisfaction | Ep. 20
🎧 17 min listen
Fear of What-Ifs | Ep. 19
🎧 27 min listen
Finding Love | Ep. 18
🎧 29 min listen
Filling the Empty Nest | Ep. 17
🎧 23 min listen
When Your Best Isn't Good Enough | Ep. 16
🎧 22 min listen
Powerlessness - When Your Child Pulls Away | Ep. 15
🎧 20 min listen
Mom, CEO of Home, Inc. | Ep. 14
🎧 21 min listen
Judging Ourselves | Ep. 13
🎧 19 min listen
If They Would Just Do What We Want | Ep. 12
🎧 21 min listen
Having It All | Ep. 11
🎧 22 min listen
Chasing Happiness | Ep. 10
🎧 28 min listen
Creating Time | Ep. 9
🎧 28 min listen
Benefits of Bad Habits | Ep. 8
🎧 24 min listen
Capturing Dreams - Part II | Ep. 7
🎧 23 min listen
Capturing Dreams - Part I | Ep. 6
🎧 24 min listen
Embracing Overwhelm | Ep. 5
🎧 26 min listen
How Deep is Your Love? | Ep. 4
🎧 24 min listen
Ignite the Motivation to Pursue Your Dreams | Ep. 3
🎧 23 min listen
Letting Go of How Your Child Should Reach Their Potential | Ep. 2
🎧 20 min listen
