Connectionhood Rena Chandler

Courtney Menezes is very much a woke parent who wears many amazing hats while following her visionary heart. We talk about the wildly popular and unique Waldorf education path, how that aligns with Courtney’s values and parenting style. We cover natural childbirth and HypnoBirthing. We chat about chickens and how her kids help feed, take care of and learn life lessons on their little family homestead. Raising beautiful beings with Courtney is an insightful conversation about what family life and conscious parenting could look like. Courtney shares some of her intrinsic parenting skills with us that are essential for moving through parenthood/life!

Today's episode is a great one. Esmeralda shares her story with love and humor as she explains the red road, the good road, the respectful road, and how to walk the red road as best we can. Learning how to love yourself. Looking into indigenous spirituality and awareness. Being sober, the Medicine Wheel and 12 Step Program.

Having her first daughter at seventeen, Esmeralda felt like a child having a child. Growing up in Bonsall California around farming and tending the land, she carries that passion today and knows what she wants to do for the rest of her life, to live off the land! We hear a woman in the struggle, a single mother, drug and alcohol addictions and the beauty in recovery.

We talk about the intergenerational trauma that's built up everywhere and the life tools we've lost because of it. Esmeralda shares how she recovered herself and how she's helping others by asking for forgiveness, practicing good communication, loving herself, and not being afraid to ask for help.

Esmeralda awesomely initiates Healing Circles as a Firestarter and works with indigenous communities for the Wellbriety movement to help heal her community and people. Teaching her daughters how to be sustainable beings, encouraging lots of outdoor nature-based understanding and learning respect for yourself and the earth.

Connect more with Esmeralda Hummingbird:
@gardenunidos
@healingforestunidos
@solremedy
@womensforpositivechange

If you love Connectionhood, please subscribe and leave the show a rating and review on iTunes, as this will help reach and support more people.
Thank you for tuning in, have a beautiful day and Ciao for now! Rena xo

SAFETY PLAN FOR VICTIMS WHO LEAVE AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP

Gather all important papers including birth certificates, prescriptions, marriage certificates, Medicaid card, Insurance card, Social Security card, income tax return, spouse’s pay stub, credit card records.
Find a safe place to go.
Make an extra set of keys and/or leave keys and important papers with a friend or family member who you can trust.
Save money and hide it or give to a friend or family member to hold for you.
Secure transportation
Create a signal system with a designated friend to let them know when “it’s time” or to call the police.
Leave when the abuser is not at home.
Do not let the abuser know that you plan on leaving.

SAFETY PLAN FOR VICTIMS WHO STAY IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP

Develop a safety plan for the future in the event that you need to leave the abusive situation.
As a part of the safety plan, secure money, clothing, identification, legal papers, etc. and hide them in a safe place.
Attend a support group for victims.
As much as possible, do not isolate yourself.
Remember that unless there is some form of intervention, the cycle of violence will most likely continue.
National Resources


National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
www.ncadv.org/need-support/what-is-domestic-violence

National Clearing House on Child Abuse and Neglect
800-394-3366

National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse
800-55-NCPCA [800-556-2722]

National Council on Child Abuse and Family Violence Helpline
800-222-2000

National Domestic Violence Hotline
www.thehotline.org
800-799-7233, 800-787-3224

National Victims Center
800-FYI-CALL [800-394-2255]

National Sexual Violence Resource Center
www.nsvrc.org
877-739-3895

American Bar Association, National Legal Resource Center of Child Advocacy and Protection
202-662-1720

Faith Trust Institute
www.faithtrustinstitute.org
206-634-1903

Local Community Resources (San Diego, California)

Center for Community Solutions
1-888 385-4657
Hidden Valley House 760-480-0055

Family Violence/Abuse
Child Abuse Hotline
800-344-6000

Domestic Violence/ Women's Shelter
888-272-1767

Legal Assistance
877-534-2524
877-734-3258

Interfaith Community Services
760-721-2117

Women's Resource Center-Oceanside
24-hour crisis hotline
760-757-3500

Mom, what is a dildo? Are you ready to have the sex talk with your kids? Well, Steph Scurry is and she shares with us her sex education advice. Steph’s advice? Yes, talk to your kids about sex education, normal human body changes, and talk often!

~Trigger warning~ Please be aware we do talk about sexual abuse and children. As a human being and mom this is a hard topic, but unfortunately still so common and I had to address and seek any advice Steph had on this.

Some other topics we cover, using the anatomical terms for body parts with children, right when they begin talking. Humans are sexual beings and exploring your own private parts in privacy is perfectly healthy and normal. Parents communicating about normal bodily functions ex. nocturnal emissions and all sex education is the antidote for any concerns of that nature in the future. Know that curious, intelligent children will go seek out information that intrigues them and as Steph points out, it might be best to hear the truth from a parent rather than a 3rd grader explaining pregnancy and jacuzzis. This episode is fun and amusing as I ask Steph how she goes about all the possible uncomfortable sex fumbles a parent might face, I hope you enjoy!

Steph Scurry is a wonderful conscientious parent, who above all else, raising her kids is the main priority. The love that shines from Steph speaking about her children and life experiences is extremely moving. Employed in many creative fields in the film industry, Steph utilizes her love for the lens, her keen eye in lighting and pure creative talent to support herself and capture any unseen beauty we might have missed.

The motherly joys of breastfeeding and how having a tribe of support in a worst case scenario saved her babies life. Getting real, Steph warns how life can change so quickly and shares about her ex's opioid addiction, which eventually led to heroin addiction. Parenting solo, the ups, downs, and in-betweens, Steph gives credit to her dear sister and family for help and support along the way. 

Always working, Steph comes to realize that putting her kids first, leaning on one's own skills and doing what you enjoy is the answer for herself and her family, as the provider and nurturer. Anyone can have a baby, but not everyone can parent. We hear Steph's story of choosing to show up to motherhood, even when you don't want to, and how just that choice can be liberating for many parents. 

Steph Scurry is a wonderful conscientious parent, who above all else, puts her kids as the main priority. The love that shines through from Steph speaking about her children and life experiences is extremely moving. Employed in many creative fields in the film industry, Steph utilizes her love for the lens, her keen eye in lighting and pure creative talent to support herself and capture any unseen beauty we might have missed. 

Kris and I weave in and out of personal and professional growth, spirituality, realness and being a better parent at any stage.