Much love and pride for ya,
Michelle

Hello everyone!

Here is a sample of our LITTLEseed™ Program 21 song CD, entitled, “How We Grow” which we use in our classes:

http://www.greenwomanyc.com/LITTLESeedMedley.mp3

I have some CDs available for purchase and will soon offer them online as well.  Stay tuned and, in the  meantime, enjoy!

All the best,

Michelle Wenis

There is so much out there on how to be this or that kind of parent or even human being. It seems there have always been stacks of articles, books, pamphlets, blogs, blogs, blogs… The advice and info goes this way, goes full circle back that way…

Just like fashion in the industry, parenting and self help advice seems to go in and out of style. Some resonates, some does not appeal to us at all.

I am on a path right now, THE path of my formerly nomadic life, by comparison.  I have been reading.  A lot.  And, in reading one of the best books I now believe ever to have been written, finally, some time tested and sound advice!

Develop these qualities:  love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

How can I go wrong with this as a start and end point to the way I try to live as an individual, a spouse, a parent, a teacher, home-maker, and someone’s child?  Whatever I am about to say, think or do, if it is not in line with those qualities, I probably should press the pause button, before moving forward.  We really can stop, press the pause button, pray or meditate (whatever your mode of getting a hold of yourself is) and, while it isn’t easy, it does become easier with practice.

Maybe I am just seeing things differently, now that I am 38. But I am really no longer all that interested in re- writing the book on parenting or being a decent human being.  I was given a gut, a book chock full of guidelines to benefit me and those around me and a choice with what to do with it.  That’s it.  Not for everyone, I know.  But I am talking about me and my modus operandi and this is, after all, my blog.  You are welcome to keep doing what you are doing.

I just find it amazing that, throughout thousands of years, history repeats itself one way or another. I am going with some time tested advice.  Yup, that’s what I am going to continue to do… I have spent entirely too much time making myself too crazy trying to figure things out all by myself.  I guess, all children need to walk away, find their own way and then… it’s amusing really… do everything they can to find their way back home again.

I have spent a good amount of time with my father, this last month.  I love my Dad.  He and my mother, both, are true examples of resilience and, while I haven’t always agreed with him or held my tongue about where I have disagreed, as I explored the great big world around me through the years… the last time I was with my father, I spent a great deal of time really listening to him and saying, “Okay.”

It felt good to say, “Okay.”  My Mom, fortunately, remains in this country, so I will have plenty of opportunities to say that word to her to.  And I hope to spend the rest of my life lifting her up as much as she and my Dad have, throughout my life, have lifted me up.

But now, I will go back to sharing about my father.  He takes a plane today and I feel the urgency of that deadline to our time together.  As I tried to memorize his physique, the last time he stood and walked next to me, the way he carries himself, the way he reaches out to touch people’s lives in the way he does, the way in which he interacts with people around him on a daily basis, the way he gets misty eyed over birthday cards from my brothers, and their and my accomplishments… He is truly one of my heroes.

He’s a faithful good citizen and beautiful father.  I have had this privilege of being a part of his life and to watch him display and even master those qualities I mention above.  He’s not perfect.  He will never be. Neither will I ever be.  That gives me hope that perfection isn’t the goal.  But striving to get there is a worthy endeavor.  Those qualities above can help me on that road.

Not everyone gets a chance to have or see his/her father like that.  He is going home to the Philippines to retire now and I know how lucky I have been to have had him all this time in my life.  There are moments we all regret.  How much more time could we have spent together if I only…. but I can’t go there.  That isn’t in line with the list of helpful words.  That moves into judgement, which is the worst quality of all.  Just watch what mistakes we’ll look back on and hope to forget.  But that is the fabric of life.  Let’s just learn from all of it and work on that sound advice above.

I am going back to the basics.  I am going to trust I have been given all that I need to fulfill my purpose for being in this world.  From the parents that brought me into this world, through their best and worst mistakes, etc… Those qualities are a great reminder of what I, we, are capable of in working towards being our best example for our kids.  What a promise, if we could all follow such sound advice.

Have you any better to offer than that?

Hello LITTLEseed™ Program families and friends joining Caramella and I at Newtown Earth Day (Newtown Middle School) tomorrow!

We had a great time at the Woodbury Earth Day Fair and look forward to more fun times in Newtown!

NEWTOWN EARTH DAY DETAILS

http://www.newtownearthday.org/schedule/entertainment-line-up/

TIME & WHERE TO MEET

Our program is at 11:30am.  This time, I do not have a tent, so please just meet by the stage between 11:00 – 11:15AM.

TESTIMONIALS

If you would like to share any testimonials about our program, my friend and documentary film student, Laura Gatto, will be there to film whatever you wish to share.

WHAT TO BRING

If you have a LITTLEseed, please bring a blanket. If you have a LITTLEbean, just play with us. My own movements will be minimal by comparison to what we do in class, just so I can preserve myself.

The song line up is the same as last weekend:

1 – Tick Tock
2 – Hands & Feet
3 – Mama Stay
4 – Sea Star
5 – Far Away (maybe)
6 – Zoo Sky
7 – Up Down
9 – Pop Hop Rocket

SALE OF CDs

I will have some CDs for sale. If you would like to purchase a CD but will not be there, please let me know in advance so I can set one aside for you and arrange getting it to you.  I have ordered a limited number of CDs and will look into selling the CD online or song by song via Itunes or something like that.

HERE IS A YOUTUBE VIDEO OF THE WOODBURY EARTH DAY FAIR

http://youtu.be/EhANIj3vnVs

Thank you to my brother, Vincent Inciong, and his company ICOmedia for putting this surprise and terrific footage together!

Looking forward to another beautiful day and grateful for whomever can enjoy this with us!

Michelle

Thank you Vincent Inciong and IcoMedia! My knees are shaking still…

Here is the link:

http://youtu.be/EhANIj3vnVs

It was a very emotional day as my Dad turned 70 that day and was supposed to have retired to the Philippines just a few days before but HE WAS THERE!

I got to sing the song I wrote for him and the crowd was very forgiving, despite my choking on some of the lyrics.

I was graced with family on Erich’s side, my side, not to mention so many very special and familiar faces who stopped at our booth or got to enjoy or participate in the show.  Even my Mom, sick a few days before, was able to make the trek, thanks to my super dedicated Step Dad who just arrived back to the US for one day, between business trips across the world, and insisted he could make the trip.

Best part?  God answered our prayers!  We had the most glorious weather, contrary to what was forecasted.  Thank you, Lord, for holding off the rain until the next day.

If you missed us, please come join us next Saturday at the Newtown Earth Day fair, Saturday, April 28th, at the Newtown Middle School. We are on at 11:30am.

Stay for our friend Cady Carroll & her husband, Billy Burton, at 3:30pm. Cady is “Singer-songwriter with an old time flair” who is just one big ray of sunshine with her beautiful songs on stage!  I have seen her perform and she just fills me with al kinds of HAPPY!  Can’t wait to hear her and her husband play!

http://www.newtownearthday.org/schedule/entertainment-line-up/

Hope to see you there!

Michelle Wenis

What are or aren’t we doing at home with our children, that we have to prevent them from bullying at school? What support are parents getting or not getting to support their children properly so that they learn the benefits of contributing positively to our society?

This isn’t a school problem, this is a family support problem. Kids need their parents. Parents need their kids. We are missing something bigger here.

We have created a problem that needs to be dealt with way before kids start school. This starts from the very beginning. Families need to flourish at home. Families need to be valued in every way. What is happening to our country that families and their time together is under so much attack? What has happened to us that we just stand for it as if we don’t have a choice?

We need kids to be “independent,” even as babies, so parents can manage their super busy lives.  No! We need kids to see parents, families, communities united. This is how we solve problems together. This is how we cope.

Parents need tools to learn how to cope, if they never learned how. We have gone too far buying into the lie that families need everything else other than their very families.

Please, turn off the tv, the radio, FB and all that may infringe upon valuable family time. Watching a show together is not the same as playing a board game or turning on some music and dancing around the living room together to let off steam and to just be happy together!

These other things aren’t markers for success. Those are tools that separate us from what really matters – each other! Those are distractions we use to make life “easier” so we can be more “productive.”

Our children are our most valuable products! They are the gift we are privileged to raise – not the school or the tvs responsibility! Get outside with your kids and play hop scotch, take a walk together, sit down and play tic tac toe, or tell them about your childhood or read to them. It is the with them that matters. These things are free.

Your time with them is what is precious.  Five minutes every day is better than one big giant vacation once a year. It is the every day that matters!

Do you speak with them, look them in the eye and tell them how much they matter to you? Because this is what matters to them. It doesn’t take a lot to show our kids they matter! Let them know you are here for them. It is not up to the school to raise them!

Pull them out of all the activities you think they need to be in if you are strapped for family time because they don’t need those things. They don’t need another set of people to raise or socialize them. They need you and you need them!

It has for me.  In any case, we are all where we are ready to be.  For you, the “Universe” may be the support you seek.  Or, your day planner is all you need.  I, personally, am in a place where I have met my God.  If you are open to saying a little prayer for me for this weekend, I would greatly appreciate it.  While I would love to see a wonderful turnout, complete confidence in what I need to do and for a beautiful day this Saturday, regardless of the weather predictions… I would ask that you help me pray for a strengthened trust that all will be well.

My prayer is this:

Lord, You are bigger than any rain cloud or thunder shower prediction. When I knocked on your door, you opened it. Shortly after, You sent me 14 songs in a span of 45 minutes (with lyrics and melody) that could have only come from You. You showed me how to integrate this into the work You asked me to rename and redefine in so many ways. You lead me to call Barry Hartglass and, months later, I await the delivery of our LITTLEseed™ Program CD “How We Grow.”

Since I asked You sincerely to come into my life, You have rearranged my world and surround me with people who bless me not only at home but in my work each moment of my day.

If it is Your will for the skies to open up and pour on Earth Day, then I trust You; You know what You are doing. If you are looking for prayer from me, then here I am and I know my slew of prayer warriors are with me right now, asking you to bless our Woodbury Earth Day Fair this Saturday.

Yours,
Me

WHAT TO DO:

Please meet near the stage (a flat bed hay truck!) at 2:15PM.  Our program is twenty minutes long with 10 minute set up time from 2:30 – 3:00PM.

Caramella and I will have to play things by ear as far as sharing LITTLEseed™ and/or LITTLEbean™ movements or improvising with the older kids.  Please just do what you and baby do so beautifully in class, and don’t let us confuse you.  I know you will do great!  If you have not yet participated in class, please sit next to someone who looks like they have and just have a great time with us!

Please spread the word to other moms and babies/crawlers/toddlers to join us as well as you walk through the fair!

OUR SONG LIST:

1 – Tick Tock
2 – Hands & Feet
3 – Mama Stay
4 – Sea Star
5 – Far Away (maybe)
6 – Zoo Sky
7 – Up Down
9 – Pop Hop Rocket
WHAT TO BRING:

If you are joining us, please bring a blanket for you to lay baby on.   There may be a small or large area for everyone to sit or this may be a high traffic spot and we will simply sing.  We will only know the day of.

WHERE TO CHANGE/FEED BABY?

Come to our tent!  I will have a 10×10 tent with (hopefully) a LITTLEseed™ Program Banner and Green Woman & Your Childbirth, LLC signage.

• I will try to have a pack and play set up so you can change your baby there and off the ground, if that makes things easier.  I will not have a dirty diaper bin as, I think with all the activity, I may not be able to keep emptying it.
• I will bring a rocking chair for nursing/bottle feeding mamas and some boppy pillows so you have some place to sit somewhat comfortably and, at least, a blanket on the grass.
• I will bring my grey gate enclosure in case you and your kiddo need to sit and stay contained for just a little while.  : )

That is all for now!

Thank you so much to those who are coming to support our little event.  And for those who are away, but wish they could, thank you for being there with us in spirit!

Yours gratefully,

Michelle

Please join us at 11:30AM as we share our LITTLEseed™ Program songs and movements on Saturday, April 28th, at Newtown’s Fifth Annual Earth Day Festival, 10 am-4 pm.

It is at Newtown Middle School, 11 Queen Street and is an annual event for all ages designed to highlight the town’s abundant natural resources.  Enjoy kids’ activities, live music, refreshments, Lose The Litter, The Environmental Maze, silent auction, vendors and much more; www.NewtownEarthDay.org.  

Please join us for the 18th Annual Woodbury Earth Day Fair on April 21st at Hollow Park.

Musical entertainment details listed here: http://www.woodburyearthday.org/?page_id=9.

We are on at 2:30PM! : )