Ramona at the lovely San Antonio Mission

 San Antonio Mission
annual: Cutting of the Roses 

My adapted version of Ramona has been in the gift shop for several years thanks to the vision of Frankie Grau who runs the Gift Shop and values the historical contribution of Helen Hunt Jackson the original author of the story.  

I want to thank my family for coming to this event with me, especially my husband (not shown here unfortunately) who made it happen by driving, getting up early, packing lunches, and being super supportive!

Ramona can be found here: Ramona on Amazon

Tools for the iceberg under the surface

My friend Emilee got me this book. It was an interesting read. I wish I would've read it when my kids were smaller and those mysterious tantrums were a part of my weekly life. I think understanding brain development is one of the new frontiers of our era. Such language as the upstairs/downstairs brain, integrating the left and right, making the implicit explicit, the wheel of awareness - (being the conductor of your own thought life.)

The tools outlined in this book with short comic strips as well as engaging stories, are applicable to anyone - whether they're parents or not. The ongoing work of being aware of our own processes so that we don't sabotage others is something I definitely want to continue to embrace.