The holidays are approaching, and as midlife moms, the season can feel like a swirling storm of expectations, obligations, and emotions. We juggle so much—family traditions, holiday planning, our children’s ever-changing needs, and the bittersweet reality of approaching the empty nest. It’s no wonder we feel stretched thin. Overwhelm can manifest as a tangled web of stress, anxiety, guilt, and frustration, making it hard to enjoy what should be a season of peace and joy.   Let’s make this holiday different, my friend. Join me in this episode to learn how to overcome overwhelm--both over the holidays and in the year to come.    

Welcome back to the Small Jar's ONE Obstacle series where we’re diving into the one thing holding so many of us back from creating the happiness we want in midlife. This week, I’m diving into that tricky emotion we all encounter but rarely name: disappointment. Why is it so hard to admit that we’re disappointed—sometimes with our lives, our relationships, or even with ourselves? Let’s talk about why this feeling shows up, what it really means, and how we can shift from feeling stuck in it to feeling empowered.

Welcome back to the second episode in Small Jar's new series where we’re diving into the one thing holding so many of us back from creating the happiness we crave in midlife. In this episode, I’m diving into one of the most common obstacles we face in midlife—worry. Whether it’s our kids, our relationships, or uncertainty about the future, worry can consume us, leaving us feeling powerless and disconnected from the moments that matter most. I’ll explore why our minds are wired for worry and how it keeps us stuck. Whether your  mind falls prey to mindset traps or if you find yourself trying to control the people or outcomes around you, all of this only serves to heighten anxiety. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by worry, join me to discover how you can reclaim your peace, set powerful boundaries, and show up for yourself with intention.

Welcome to a brand-new series on the Small Jar Podcast where we’re diving into the one thing holding so many of us back from creating the happiness we crave in midlife. If you’re a mom of teens or an empty nester, feeling like your world is shifting as your kids grow more independent, you’re not alone. What if I told you that there's one obstacle keeping you stuck, and that understanding this obstacle emotion is the key to unlocking a new chapter of peace, purpose, and joy in your life. In this episode, I’ll break down why this obstacle is so difficult to overcome, why the typical solutions don’t work, and how you can finally overcome it. If you're ready to get unstuck and start living the life that you want, join me for this new series launch!

As moms in midlife, we face a lot of challenges. In this week's episode, I'm diving into something that’s been heavy on my heart lately—navigating my son's senior year, the pressure of college applications, and all the emotions that come with it. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by stress or found yourself worrying endlessly about your child’s future, you’ll want to listen in. I'll be sharing the roller coaster of emotions I've been experiencing, and more importantly, how I’ve been working through it all. But here’s the twist—it's not just about managing anxiety or forcing gratitude. It’s about truly understanding how our minds work, why those stressful thoughts show up, and what it means to be present even when life feels chaotic. So, if you’re ready to explore how to find peace in the midst of the storm, how to recognize the purpose behind your thoughts, and how to see the beauty in your life—even when it’s messy—this episode is for you. Join me as we unpack the journey of embracing both the joy and the challenge of these pivotal moments.

No matter how old your child, no matter what else you have on your plate, I bet you drop everything if they need you. It's just what we do as moms.  You do everything in your power to support their dreams. We're working so hard to support the needs of everyone else in our life. But, who's taking care of us?  Even though we wouldn't trade anything for the gift of being a mom, this sense of purpose and meaning doesn't solve for the anxiety and stress we can feel as we navigate raising and launching our kids. It doesn't solve for the loneliness we start to feel as our kids become busier in their lives and eventually leave home.  In this episode, I explore the question - who's taking care of you. And how you can learn to take care of yourself on a deeper level than ever before.  

Let's talk about this phrase, "letting go."  As we raise our teens and approach the empty nest, the thought of "letting go" of our kids is painful. It can make us feel like we need to hold on tighter, or dread a time when we really will have to let go. We think it means we have to let go of our desire to keep our kids safe and help them be happy and successful. We can think he means we have to let go of our connection with our kids, and the deep purpose we have felt as moms. Is it any wonder that it's hard to let these precious things go? But in this episode, I ask you to consider, do you really need to let your dreams for your child, or even your purpose as a mom go? If you're struggling as your teen grows up, this episode will empower you to know that you never have to let go of your child. In fact, you can create the love and connection you want with them, no matter how far away they go.

How often does the phrase, "I don't know," come to mind or out of your mouth? I don't know how to get my teen to listen. I don't know why my daughter is always angry. I don't know whether I should get involved. I don't know what I should do next. Sound familiar? There are some times where you literally don't know. In other words, there are facts that you don't have. Other times, we fall into what I call the "I Don't Know" mindset....when we tell ourselves that we don't know because we want to protect ourselves from pain. The problem is, when we tell ourselves "I don't know", and we fear the possibility of pain, what we're actually doing is staying stuck in pain. In this week’s episode of the Small Jar Podcast, I dive into how to understand the "I Don't Know" mindset...and how to empower yourself to decide how to move forward.

If you've ever found yourself caught in a whirlwind of frustration, resentment, or feeling out of control because of how others are behaving—whether it's your kids, your spouse, or others in your life—you are not alone. Most of us give away our emotional power waiting for others to behave a certain way so we can feel okay.  The problem is, this keeps us dependent on the circumstances of our lives going perfectly, and when they inevitably don't align with our hopes and expectations, we find ourselves stuck in painful emotion. Join me in this episode as I share how to create emotional intention so you can show up in your life with strength and peace, regardless of what's happening around you.

One thing I love about being a mom is that I get to believe my in boys' potential, even when they can't see it. In fact, I am so fiercely dedicated to my belief in their potential, that there is nothing that can convince me they don't deserve all of the happiness and success their hearts can hold. But with ourselves, we're pretty quick to give up on our own potential. Or we wait for evidence to help us believe it. Whether we're looking for validation from others, or proof of our progress. The result is frustration and disappointment. And even worse, staying stuck. In this episode, I take a fresh look at the Mentor Mindset and how the skillset we have as we champion and coach our own kids is exactly the same mindset that can empower us to reach our own potential.

As moms, we have really good advice. We want the best for our kids and we have a lot of experience in life that our kids don't have. But what's interesting is that the advice we give our kids is often the very same advice we need to hear ourselves. But how often do we actually take our own advice? In this episode, I share my personal experiences and examples from my coaching practice to help you see the wisdom you already have within you. Join me as we reflect on this sage advice and discover how to step into a more empowered and compassionate version of yourself.

As a mom entering your child’s senior year of high school, you feel deeply the weight of the change to come. With each micro-goodbye, each "last", you feel closer to that time when you will have to say goodbye to your child. I've been down this road before with my older son, and as I approach my baby's senior year, I thought I would share the intentions I am going into this year with to be sure that I stay in the moment and support my son in the best way I can. I have learned that by becoming more intentional about your thoughts and how they shape your emotions, you harness the power to create any even deeper and more impactful connection with your child and also with yourself. This year is a pivotal time, full of bittersweet moments. Join me as we embrace all of it together.

It's an emotional rollercoaster, this business of raising and launching teens. There are so many beautiful highs, but the lows are rough. We've been supporting our kids, helping them be safe, happy and successful, for so long, it's instinctual at this point. In fact, caring for our kids is as important to us as our own survival. So often we think of our emotions as being caused by people or situations in our life, but in this episode I explore how this isn't true. And why this is really good news! Look, in life, there will no doubt be triggers...situations that fire up our fight or flight response. Times that we have to navigate complicated decisions. Questions about how best to parent and support our kids. Life is always going to offer up new circumstances. But could you imagine understanding your emotions, and knowing how to be in control of them, so that you knew you could handle whatever comes your way? Check this episode out to learn how.

Some of us dread the empty nest...others of us embrace it. No matter your perspective about that moment when your last child leaves home, us moms actually start the process of letting go much earlier. As soon as our kids hit puberty, we start to have to grapple with the reality that we can no longer have control over their safety, happiness or success. And in truth, balancing our at times conflicting desires to support our kids, help them thrive, and to feel like our role matters...this challenge can continue through the time when our own babies start having babies. In this episode, I reframe the conversation about the empty nest and share the three lessons that you have the opportunity to embrace so that you can step off the emotional roller coaster and create more peace, confidence, joy and fulfillment in your life. Where ever you are on your journey through the open nest, consider that although your birds might eventually leave home, they will come back….and as they seek their own happiness and success…that invitation is open to you as well.

"Stay positive!" "You just need to learn to let go." "Find new purpose." "Learn pickleball!"  It's not that this advice isn't well-meaning...the problem is that this advice doesn't address the root cause of the problem you're facing. Namely, that the transition when your kid goes to college can be really hard. We'd love to believe everything will be fine. Our kids have been telling us to let go for years. Find new purpose? How do I do that? The typical advice we new empty nesters hear sounds simple, but it's not easy. So in this episode, I'm not going to give you more advice. But I am going to do a mindset audit of some common tips people give moms of new college kids...and I'm going to show you exactly why it's not easy to follow. And spoiler alert: it's NOT your fault!

Forget big goals, sometimes we just want to feel better in our life.  But have you ever stopped to think about what that looks like?  How do you want to feel?  What if that is actually the goal - to feel better?  In this episode I explore the positive impact of creating more peace, confidence and joy. It's actually not only about feeling better. The impact of these emotions is that you actually show up to your life in a whole new way.

Life is messy.  Life with teens, riding the roller coaster of emotions as they grow up...for us moms, it's particularly messy. Learning how to redefine ourselves as we approach the next chapter...messy. We often tell ourselves that "it doesn't have to be perfect". But how often are you satisfied with "imperfect."  In this episode, I share the four lessons I was reminded of as I tackled my garden. Join me if you're ready to find the beauty in imperfection.

Episode 111. The work of becoming who you want to be is not simply about thinking happier thoughts and trying to manifest a better life. You most likely don't even realize how many ways your own mind is holding you back. Sometimes it's simply a thought that you can’t be satisfied with your life until you fix something about yourself or about the world. Join me in this episode as I share three examples of women who empowered themselves to step into who they really want to be...without needing to change anything about their lives.

Episode 110. Anxiety seems to go hand in hand with raising teens. All that you want is for your child to be safe, happy and successful...but when any of these goals is in jeopardy, we moms can't help but feel anxious, right? It's hard to trust that everything will be ok, especially when we feel such a deep responsibility to help guide and support our teens. On top of that, our minds are really good at dreaming up worst case scenarios that keep us up at night! In this episode, I share the two steps you can take right now to help you let go of your anxiety and find peace.

Episode 109. Small Jar's "mom archetypes" celebrate the many strengths and gifts that we bring to this beautiful and crazy journey of motherhood. We love our kids so much, and we want them to be safe, happy and successful. "The Mentor" is her kids' champion and cheerleader. She is the one who believes in her child's potential, and she shows up, in every conceivable way to help them be everything she knows they can be. Safe. Happy. Successful. We should all be so lucky to have this mom in our corner. There is a Mentor Mom in all of us moms who love our kids. But these same strengths can make the Mentor vulnerable to frustration and judgment as her teen veers from her view of who they have the potential to be.The Guardian. Achiever. Nurturer. Mentor. Which type do you lean into?Take the Mom Archetype Quiz: https://small-jar.involve.me/momarchetypequiz

Small Jar's "mom archetypes" celebrate the many strengths and gifts that we bring to this beautiful and crazy journey of motherhood. We love our kids so much, and we want them to be safe, happy and successful. "The Nurturer" is a mom who loves her children unconditionally. She has a high degree of empathy and provides a safe space for her children. She loves the purpose and fulfillment that comes with this role. There is a Nurturer in all of us, and these strengths have been a gift to our children. But these same strengths can make the Nurturer vulnerable to sadness as she feels her identity shifting as her kids grow up.The Guardian. Achiever. Nurturer. Mentor. Which type do you lean into?Take the Mom Archetype Quiz: https://small-jar.involve.me/momarchetypequiz

Small Jar's "mom archetypes" celebrate the many strengths and gifts that we bring to this beautiful and crazy journey of motherhood. We love our kids so much, and we want them to be safe, happy and successful. "The Achiever" is a woman who is committed to helping her child live up to their potential. In so many ways, this has been a gift to her kids. I see the Achiever in all of us moms,  and whether you feel successful right now or not, your Achiever mindset has also benefitted you throughout your life. Join me as I explore how the strengths and vulnerabilities of the Achiever.The Guardian. Achiever. Nurturer. Mentor. Which type do you lean into?Take the Mom Archetype Quiz: https://small-jar.involve.me/momarchetypequiz

START HERE!  This episode is an insider's guide to the Small Jar Podcast to help you get the most out of these tools. I share my perspective on the purpose of this podcast and my work as a master coach, and I'll also tell you about me and how I got here.  If you’re a mom, whose kids are growing up and you are navigating the road to the empty nest, this episode will help you on your journey trust yourself as you decide how to move forward - both as a mom and as a women embarking on her next chapter.

Is it just me, or do we moms bear the brunt of the responsibility for the end of year celebrations and our kids' transition to summer? Your kid might be taking final exams and you're supporting them through that stress. Your child could have just graduated, and you've planned countless celebrations, hosted family, and attended endless "lasts".  Or maybe your college kid is back home and suddenly there's more laundry, more mess, more groceries needed. There is so much to celebrate and look forward to, but as a mom, you might also be feeling a lot of stress, anxiety, and frustration. If this is you, you're definitely not alone. Join me as I work through my own end of school year overwhelm.

Last week I shared my own version of "mom archetypes", celebrating the many strengths and gifts that we bring to this beautiful and crazy journey of motherhood. We love our kids so much, and we want them to be safe, happy and successful. At different times and stages, any of us moms could lean on the fearless protective power of what I call "The Guardian."  Join me as I explore how there is a Guardian in every one of us as moms, and how that's actually been an incredibly helpful gift--both to us and our children. The Guardian. Achiever. Nurturer. Mentor. Which type are you?Take the Mom Archetype Quiz: https://small-jar.involve.me/momarchetypequiz

I want to celebrate how beautiful and powerful we are as moms. But we are all also unique in how we approach motherhood. So I thought I’d put together a bit of a Myers-Briggs or Enneagram-style view of Mom Archetypes that offers a more holistic view of who we are as moms...not defined by our challenges, but rather by our strengths. With each of these Mom Archetypes, I am taking as a given that every one of these “types” are the kind of mom who loves her kids and tries her best.  And like with any archetypal model, while we might lean in the direction of one of these particular types, we all have the potential to have an element of any of these types. The Guardian. Achiever. Nurturer. Mentor. Which type are you?

I have learned two incredibly important lessons over the past few years. And these lessons have made my own transition to having a child in college so much easier. Raising teens can feel challenging. We simply want to help them be safe, happy and successful...and yet, this seems to become increasingly difficult as our teens grow up. But even when our kids don't want our help, or when we recognize that there is little that we can do actually make them happy when they're struggling, it can be terrifying to let go of our desire (maybe even our need) to make things better. In this episode, I explore two lessons that changed everything for me...and they may surprise you.

"The only scarier than change is regret." Oof. I don't know who first said this, but for us moms of teens, this hits home. Our lives are constantly changing. Teens growing up. Pulling away. Facing new challenges. We are approaching a time when our kids will no longer be around as much. These changes can be scary. But often, we find ourselves stuck in guilt and regret about the past. Our parenting style and the way we've chosen to raise our kids. Our love lives. Career choices and sacrifices. Our personal identity and self-care. Regret often starts with a belief that somehow the present would be different...better...if only I had made different choices in the past. But my friend, this regret isn't helping you move forward. It's keeping you stuck. Join me as I explore why regret might be the one thing you need to let go.

What is a "Managed Mindset?"  It's the antidote for the Worry Mindset, the Validation-Seeking Mindset, the Judgment Mindset, and the Fix It Mindset. Our subconscious brains fall into mindset traps all the time in an effort to keep us safe.  This is normal. But if we don't recognize this - if we don't supervise our minds, then we end up stuck in painful emotions -- anxiety, anger, shame, guilt, and overwhelm. When you are able to manage your mind, you can overcome these mindset traps and find peace and confidence, even when the world around you is in turmoil. Having a Managed Mindset means taking control of your emotional well-being.

This is the fourth in the series on the Mindset Trap Types that we can fall into as moms navigating life with teens and the transition from motherhood to the empty nest, what I call the empty nest straddle. In this episode, I explore the "Judgment Mindset Type". My friend, we all judge. We judge others, we judge our lives and how we think they "should be", we judge ourselves. And we also judge ourselves for judging all of it!  Join me in this episode as I explore what part of judgment is actually a trap, and what part is a sign that our minds are functioning perfectly.

This is the third in the series on the Mindset Trap Types that we can fall into as moms navigating life with teens and the transition from motherhood to the empty nest, what I call the empty nest straddle. In this episode, I explore the "Validation-Seeking Mindset Type". Think controlling, mom-guilt, focusing on the negative, and taking responsibility to fix all of it. There is a reason that we fall into these traps that create frustration, anger, guilt and anxiety for us, and it's not because there's something wrong with you! Join me to take a deeper diver into understanding these traps so that you can break free and find peace.

I wanted to take a big step back to give you a bit of perspective on how I approach the journey of mindset work, both in my own life and in my work with clients.  And because I think it can be helpful to think of these things in terms of acronyms, I came up with the LOVE Technique. Here's what it means. L – is to Learn about how your mind creates your emotions and results. O - Observe your own mind in action as the watcher. V - Verify through your own observations the impact of your mindset. E - Empower yourself to decide to create the results you want in your life. Joins me as I break this technique down and share insight into my Mom 2.0 coaching process.

I'm back with the Mindset Trap Types that we can fall into as moms navigating life with teens and the transition from motherhood to the empty nest, what I call the empty nest straddle. In this episode, I explore the "Fix-It Mindset Type". Think controlling, mom-guilt, focusing on the negative, and taking responsibility to fix all of it. There is a reason that we fall into these traps that create frustration, anger, guilt and anxiety for us, and it's not because there's something wrong with you! Join me to take a deeper diver into understanding these traps so that you can break free and find peace.

Join me as I explore the Mindset Trap Types that we can fall into as moms navigating life with teens and the transition from motherhood to the empty nest, what I call the empty nest straddle. In this episode, I explore the "Worry Mindset Type". Think catastrophizing, all or nothing thinking and fear of the unknown. There is a reason that we fall into these traps that create worry and anxiety for us, and it's not because there's something wrong with you!  Join me to take a deeper diver into understanding these traps so that you can break free and find peace.

A mindset trap is a counter-productive way of thinking motivated by your subconscious desire to seek pleasure, avoid pain, and conserve energy.  Of course there are times when it's a really good thing that we are instinctively motivated to avoid pain. But in our modern world, we spend a lot of unconscious mental bandwidth trying to avoid emotional pain...and in our lives as moms of teens, there are serious consequences. Join me in this episode as I get back to basics on mindset traps and demonstrate the power of breaking free of these traps.

What is "enough"? As moms, it can quite literally feel like what you do is never enough. Of course there's juggling all of life's responsibilities. But then, as you try your best to support your teen, it can feel like you're constantly failing. You want to believe that what you are doing is enough. But deep down inside, sometimes you wonder...am I enough? Join me as I explore this question. What would it look like to decide..."I am enough."

The empty nest syndrome is a myth. It’s a story we’ve told ourselves to explain a big transitional moment in our lives. And worse, it has the tendency to pathologize our feelings of grief and loss. Whatever you feel as you approach the empty nest – it is not a result of there being something wrong with you….it is simply a function of your perception of what this change means for you. Listen in as I debunk this myth.

In our everyday lives, there are so many opportunities for you to fall into mindset traps. As you learn about these common mindset traps and the messages start to resonate, it’s so tempting to want to diagnose yourself. Because guess what – if you can diagnose the problem, then you can fix it, right?  In this episode I explore how, when you actually embrace these traps, it's possible that they will let you go.

This is the LAST in the series on the mindset traps of the Empty Nest Straddle. This trap is by far my favorite…and when I say favorite, I obviously mean the one that challenges me the most. The "illusion of control" is at the heart of the Empty Nest Straddle…when we’re torn between feeling the need to help our kids be safe happy and successful and the powerlessness of actually being able to help them with any of these things. Power. Control. These are not words that we like to associate with motherhood. In fact, if your child has ever accused you of ‘trying to control them’, I’m willing to bet you’ve gotten immediately defensive. “I’m not trying to control you!  I’m just….fill in the blank with something related to “help you be safe, happy or successful.”  We’re “just” trying to help. Join me in this episode to learn why this is a trap.

I'm back with the last few mindset traps of the Empty Nest Straddle. In this episode, I'm tackling the trap of "Overgeneralization", where our minds draw broad, and often incorrect or at least incomplete, conclusions about the circumstances of our lives. This trap is insidious because we often have no idea we're doing it. In fact, we often think that what we observe is simply the "truth". But when we don't observe and manage this aspect of our minds, it can have disastrous consequences for our relationships (particularly with our teens) and in the way we feel about and show up in our lives. Tune in to get yourself out of this trap.

In honor of Valentine’s Day I thought I would dedicate this podcast to the goal of finding or creating more romantic love in our lives. This episode is for you no matter whether you are with someone right now or not. Whether you are with someone, getting over the pain of the end of being with someone, or just looking for someone to start a new relationship with…this conversation applies to all of us.  What does it mean to find true love and what, specifically, are you looking for? In this episode, I will share the ways you can find true love in your life right now.

We need connection in our life, but we've been busy raising kids and managing hectic lives...it hasn't been easy to focus on friendship. And now that we look ahead to the empty nest, some of us find that this aspect of our lives is missing. Join me as I explore the goal of finding connection and friendship.

For most of us moms, there isn't any more important relationship in our lives than the one we have with our children. Since they came into our lives, they have been our highest priority. And for a long time, we have also been the center of our kids' lives. When did that change? In this episode I explore the goals we have around connecting with and strengthening the relationship we have with our teens. I know you are trying your best, but are you truly living into being the woman who creates connection? Listen and find out!

As moms, we start to grapple with the loss of purpose of being a mom well before our children leave the nest…even as early as middle school. But this is what can happen...we create our own pain when our need to hold onto our purpose of keeping our children safe, happy and successful starts to conflict with our teens’ need for independence. Join me in this episode where I explore how to stop holding on, without ever needing to let go.

Do you have a habit you want to change? Whether it's starting something new, or letting go of habits aren't working for you anymore, join me in this podcast as I get curious about why it's often so hard to change our habits. This is the second episode in a mini-series on the mindset aspects of achieving goals. This week I'm focusing on habit goals - this could be anything from getting more exercise to snacking, drinking or procrastinating less. This is a bit different from my typical focus on life with teens and our lives as we approach the empty nest, but by applying mindset tools to a different area of our lives, I want to show you how universal this skillset is. From parenting, relationships and purpose to weight loss, fitness and health, this work isn't about what you should do...it's about who you need to become.

This is NOT another New Years podcast about losing weight or working out. As a master life coach, I am never going to tell you what you should do. You have enough of those "shoulds" in your life already. This podcast isn't about how to lose weight or get fit...this is about accessing the curiosity to understand how you are showing up in your life and how that is helping you move toward your goals or keeping you stuck. I am going to explore the mindset aspects of a number of different goals in a mini-series on goals. This week I'm focusing on body goals, which is a bit different from my typical focus on life with teens and our lives as we approach the empty nest. Whether or not you have any personal "body goals", I want to invite you to listen to see how universal the technique of thought work and mind mastery is when it comes to pursuing any goal - from parenting, relationships and purpose to weight loss, fitness and health. This work isn't about what you should do...it's about who you need to become.

Another new year is upon us.  This year, I want to invite you to drop the same-old New Year's resolutions. Whatever your goals - whether it be to improve your relationship with your teens, find new purpose, drop bad habits, or just feel better - it's not about what you do, it's about who you decide to become. As you enter into 2024, you have the opportunity to live into that version of yourself who is capable of looking at this next chapter of your life with excitement. How many times have you told your kids that they can be anything they want in life? When did we forget that this sentiment applies to us as well? Happy New Year, my friends.