What Every Christian Mom Can Learn From an Empty Nester
Building Lifelong Relationships with Your Kids: Empty-Nest Wisdom with Jill Wagner
The Mommin’ Together podcast introduces a new series and a conversation with Jill Wagner, a mom of four in the empty-nest stage, about parenting with the long view so adult kids still want closeness. Jill shares her family story (married at 17; three biological children and adopting Hakeem at 13) and where her adult children are now, many living nearby with growing families. She emphasizes enjoying the years, not sweating small stuff, being fun but holding high standards, and building trust through everyday “little moments.” Key practices include responding rather than reacting, making what matters to kids matter to you, apologizing and repairing, choosing words carefully, creating a welcoming home, and fostering open conversations about taboo topics. Jill notes giving kids grace and respect, learning to step back with adult children, and she wishes she’d done more family worship time. Her core advice: kids don’t need a perfect mom—just a real one.
00:00 Series Kickoff
00:34 Why Adult Bonds Matter
01:02 Meet Jill Wagner
01:44 Jill’s Motherhood Story
02:43 Kids Today and Grandkids
03:59 Keeping Them Close
05:48 Empty Nest Perspective
07:52 How Kids Remember You
11:55 Traits That Build Trust
16:20 Respond Don’t React
21:34 Hard Talks and Careful Words
23:27 Letting Safe Rebellion Happen
24:19 Egg Therapy Emotions
25:29 Calm Down Spaces
27:05 Open Talks Boundaries
29:17 Kids Feedback Parenting
33:45 Dad Loss Family Values
35:20 Home They Return To
41:11 Grace Backseat Parenting
43:22 Resources Final Takeaways
About Jill:
Jill Wagner is a wife of 25 years to Brian and a mom of 3 boys, 1 daughter, and 1 daughter in law aging from 20-26 years old. Jill claims to be a professional dabbler as she got her teaching degree, real estate license, babysat kids, tried network marketing companies, owned traditional businesses and flipped houses before she landed upon her passion with the Juice Plus Company and made it to the top level in 2016.
In 2020 during the pandemic she decided to put herself out on social media sharing her family life along with the vulnerability of the struggles of teen pregnancy, marriage, addiction, infidelity, weight, and empty nesting. She has grown a following of over 2 million on her platforms and strives to help women find their voice as they choose to live in a place of courage instead of shame.
Connect with Jill
TikTok: @authenticallyjill
IG: @authenticallyjill
FB: @JillSechrestWagner
Connect with Michelle
IG: @mommin_together
IG: @Michelle_Barnett_
FB: Join the Mommin’ Together Community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/14DaYZ5jchR/