I often hear from single moms whose children's father is not in the picture -- sometimes they are desperate to know what to say, othertimes they dismiss the situation as no big deal.

It is a big deal. A huge one. But not one that will destroy your kids lives -- if you confront and deal with it.

In this episode I share my own experience being raised by a single mom with an MIA dad, as an example of what NOT to do, and share why it is so important to address this loss, and how to do it.

Then we hear from Michelle who wants to know how to get her teens to open up at the nightly family dinner, and Kelley, who feel she sacrificed to stay home with her kids -- and is now left behind in the workforce. 

On "The Emma Johnson Show" I dig into one of the most common reasons I hear women say they aren't striving for their dreams: Lack of money. 

Caller Tracey and her family are trying to get ahead financial after her husband got out of jail. She blames his back child-support payments as the reason why she can't pursue her dream of real estate investment. I help her see how it is really her and her husband’s resentment towards those payments is the real culprit - not the payments. I also help her realize the first step in making her new career move. Have a listen! 

I just started dating someone I really like -- and made kind of a big deal out of who turned off their online dating profile (where we met) off first. Because it is a big deal! More on this new dating custom and how to navigate it. 

Caller Molly worries she's a stage mom (becasue she kind of is). I help her navigate this tricky situation in which her brilliant and beautiful tween daughters could likely hit super-stardom, but are not inclined to go that route. How much should this Type A, overachieving woman (and mom) push her talented girls? 

In this episode I share a recent experience that humbled me as a mom: My kids went to Europe with their dad for 2.5 weeks - our longest time apart by far. They didn't ask to call me once. Ouch. Yet brough to light how there is so much pressure for moms to to be a giant, constant and all-encompassing force in our kids' lives. That just isn't realistic -- or healthy. Kids need less of us, and more freedom and time with other loving adults.  

Caller Shelley has four kids - just one, age 14 is still at home. The oldest just had twin daughters -- in another state. Shelley is compelled to spend tons of time with her new grandkids but worries about her obligation to her teen son. I help her understand how her own feelings of abandonment by her parents when SHE became a new mom have been stirred up, as well as tools she can use to set priorities and make sure her grown and almost-grown kids are all in her orbit. 

In this episode I elaborate on my mantra that you should not be ashamed to be a mom and date at the same time -- and there is nothing wrong with your kids meeting a date or love interest, even if it's a first date or early in a relationship.

I share a recent experience in which for three consecutive weekends my kids and I happened to hang out with straight men. Two of them are platonic friends, the third a lover. When the latter -- who I had only recently met -- suggested we hang out with the kids I had a mini panic attack. Wow, he seemed serious! But my real fear was that he would be awesome with my kids - and I would have feelings for him and be at risk of getting hurt.

The caller, Kelley, called my story a cliffhanger! Listen in to hear how it played out -- and hear how I help Kelley navigate a gambling addict (aka "day trader") husband who is bankrupting the family. 

More at WealthySingleMommy.com

Nothing makes me run for the hills when a guy acts too needy, too early on in a relationship. Hounding me all day with texts? Next! Asking on a first date if I am in a "place in my life for a serious relationship" (true story)? Buh-bye. 

This episode's guest is my bud Marc, a single dad who -- like me -- dates a lot. I am often STUNNED by his stories of women who plan vacations with her family after a first date, and get upset to learn that he is still on OKCupid after they share a phone call. 

That said, I certainly feel vulnerable in relationships all the time. Listen in as Marc shares how he bought Pearl Jam tickets IN LONDON after a few weeks of courtship, and I suffered an exessential crisis because one beau took half a day to confirm a date. 

I also offer some tips on how to manager your own dating insecurity -- because we all have it! 

Steve Pomeranz interviews me re: sudden wealth and divorce, plus differentiating yourself in the marketplace! 

I hear it all the time: "I'd love to date, but feel so gross."

"I need to lose 20 lbs before I even think about dating." 

"My C-section scar/stretch marks/tear will gross out any guy!"

I have plenty of hangups about my post-baby body, too -- but after lots of field research have found that a) guys don't care. Seriously, they don't. b) Beauty is really idendependent of our bodies. c) Guys have their own stuff they're insecure about! 

I hear from single moms all the time that they are afraid to get back into the dating scene because the world has changed so much since the last time around. Indeed, online dating, texting, sexting, social media and more do influence the world in which we live -- but it's not all bad!

I share some my own digital mistakes during my first fores onto dating after divorce, and provide some tips on how to make the online world work FOR you in finding fun, dates and love.

If you don't have a romantic partner but are a parent, it can be tempting to hug your kids too much, share too many details about your life -- essentially turning your kid into an adult partner. This is understandable -- I've stepped on that slippery slope -- but very dangerous for your family and yourself. It also underscores the importance of recognizing your need to date. Single moms need to date -- and you kids need you to date.