Writing from the Heart
  • Home
  • My Story
  • My Writing
    • Published Articles
    • Favorite Writing Books
  • My Blog
  • Contact Me

Sign Me Up

8/31/2015

1 Comment

 
Junior high and high school. I’ve been there – and done that. And it wasn’t always easy. But lately I’ve been going through it again – only this time I’m the mom. And let me tell you, it’s no picnic the second time around.

Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining. I’m merely stating that I could use some help. You know; just a little direction while maneuvering my way through the mood swings and the madness.  

At this grade level, my kids can choose (within reason) which classes they’d like to take. Like Spanish or French. Band or Choir.

But here’s a thought. Wouldn't it be nice if someone could offer some crash courses for us parents? Here are a few ideas:

Mathematics:
  • Calculus for the Clueless: Practical instruction for parents who managed to weasel   their way out of taking Calculus in high school and college.
  • Essential Algebra: When (x + y) = confusion and chaos.
  • From Grueling Geometry to Tedious Trigonometry: A parents’ guide to avoiding the tough questions.

Language Arts:

  • Texting as a Second Language: Going beyond lol (laugh out loud), ttyl (talk to you later) and jk (just kidding).
  • English Comprehension: Decoding the meaning behind your adolescent’s grunts, groans and inside jokes.

Abnormal Psychology:

  • Understanding the mind of your teenager. This course focuses on conflict management; as well as strategies to eradicate mood swings and meltdowns. (Theirs and yours.) Also includes practical tools for eliminating those unpleasant behaviors such as whining, complaining, eye rolling and door slamming.    
Picture
Physical Education:
  • Building Stamina for your Backside: A how-to guide for parents who sit on uncomfortable seating during their child’s activities. For example:
    Chapter 1: The Basics of Bleachers: Why must they be a pain in the backside? 
    Chapter 2: Folding Chairs: Friend or Foe?
  • The Prepared Parent: Packing techniques for game day. Includes such topics as snacks, coolers, blankets, ponchos, lawn chairs, ibuprofen, umbrellas and more!

Drivers Education from the Passenger Seat:
  • You’ve been driving for decades, but this class is specifically designed for parents while in the passenger seat. Topics to be covered:
    Chapter 1: Patience, Patience, Patience
    Chapter 2: Self-control: How to refrain from screaming except during true emergencies.
    Chapter 3: Managing Panic Attacks: Even you can stop reaching for that invisible emergency brake.

Principles of Accounting, Economics and Finance:

  • Several important concepts will be studied in detail, including:
    Introductory Level: More Bang for your Buck: Hand-me-down jeans, second hand shirts and convincing both girls to “say yes to the dress.”
    Advanced Level: Managing your Cash Flow: How to stash cash for that never-ending lunch money and concession stand food. 
Picture
Art:
  • This course is among the most challenging. Some parents never fully master the techniques. So what’s the central focus? Teenagers want freedom and parents want control. It’s a delicate, unpredictable balancing act. This class teaches parents the fine art of holding on while letting go.

So what do you think? 

I think I may be on to something. Anyone know where I can sign up?

1 Comment

Forgetting I'm Forty

8/24/2015

0 Comments

 
It's week FIVE of my summertime blogging format! In case you didn't hear, I'm focusing more on my family (and a tad less on my blog) until the end of August. I'll still meet you here every Tuesday, but things might look a little different than usual. Thanks for stopping by! 

Picture
Hi all! Just some random ramblings this week from yours truly …

So last weekend I did something I hadn’t done in a long time. I went for a motorcycle ride with my husband. We used to ride pretty often; but that was years ago. Way back when we first started dating. It’s different these days. Let’s just say there are usually at least one or two girls ahead of me in line.  

But last Sunday was my turn. Once on the open road, Curt cranked up the radio and sang along to a lovely, spiritually uplifting song. (Just kidding.) It was Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Freebird. Curt does have a nice voice - but don't tell him I said so. 

I used to hear his same voice from the back of his motorcycle in my early twenties. I’d wrap my arms around his slender waist and away we’d go.

Those were the days …

Free Bird rattled on (that’s a very long song, you know!) and suddenly, I kind of felt like that twenty-something-year-old. Back when there were no house payments. No carpooling with the minivan. No “What’s for supper?” and no “Where’s my gym clothes?”

For just a moment, I almost forgot I was forty. (Okay, I’m forty-something, but who’s counting?)

Anyway, it was just me, the open road and the guy I loved. 

Sure, my guy’s hair was a little gray. And when I put my arms around him, he didn’t feel like a skinny kid anymore.

But me and this guy, we had a history. Twenty years of memories. Good and bad. Like graduating from college and getting jobs and having babies and climbing corporate ladders and aging parents and raising teenagers …  

And as we returned back home I realized something. I was grateful for all of it.

But can I be honest? I was also grateful, that if only for a while, I forgot I was forty.


0 Comments

Where in the World is the Zeck Family?

8/18/2015

0 Comments

 
It's week FOUR of my summertime blogging format! In case you didn't hear, I'm focusing more on my family (and a tad less on my blog) until the end of August. I'll still meet you here every Tuesday, but things might look a little different than usual. Thanks for stopping by! 

Last weekend our family decided to take a road trip. Taylor and Madison share a birthday on August 24th. Since they'll be back to school by then (and busy with volleyball, gymnastics, homework and other fun stuff), we decided to squeeze in a quick family vacation. (And celebrate their birthdays early!) I took some pictures along the way. See if you can guess where we went.
Picture
So we packed up the van and set forth on our little trip, leaving the cornfields behind.
Picture
Well, eventually we left the cornfields behind. Kind of. We do have an abundance of cornfields.
Picture
We drove over this cool double-bridge ...
Picture
And finally we started seeing rock instead of corn!
Picture
We grabbed lunch in a "cute little town" and stopped by an antique store. Check out a few of my favorite things!
Picture
In the big city (hint, hint), we enjoyed a fancy-schmancy meal. (Groovy wallpaper, huh!!)
Picture
Spent the day at a theme park. Still don't know where we went? Hint: the sign on the building is an excellent clue ...
Picture
Drum roll please ... Yep, you guessed it. We went to St. Louis!! We had a blast, watching a Cardinals game!
Need more reading material? Check out my story, "My Front Row Friend," which was previously published in the book, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Just Us Girls ... 
 
"Maybe Grace scrutinized the newsletter with a critical eye, but she always looked for the best in me." 

It's a story about a very special (yet unexpected) friendship of mine!

Have a great week,

Sheri
0 Comments

Summertime Silliness

8/11/2015

0 Comments

 
It's week THREE of my summertime blogging format! In case you didn't hear, I'm focusing more on my family (and a tad less on my blog) until the end of August. I'll still meet you here every Tuesday, but things might look a little different than usual. Thanks for stopping by! 

Today, I'll begin with a DISCLAIMER: Normally I try to maintain at least some level of professionalism on my blog. But sometimes ... well, you just gotta have fun and laugh.

Have you ever heard of dubsmash? It's an app that lets you add soundtracks to videos recorded on your phone. It's often a short clip from a song or a movie scene.

Well recently, I found these little dubsmash dandies on my phone. They are quick snippets of summertime silliness. Hope you enjoy my goofy girls as much as I do.
(By the way, those of you who are getting this by email, you may need to go to my website to watch these.)

I will always love you from sheri zeck on Vimeo.

Surprise! from sheri zeck on Vimeo.

What'cha know 'bout me? from sheri zeck on Vimeo.

You Are Late ... from sheri zeck on Vimeo.

Gus from sheri zeck on Vimeo.

Words Can't Bring Me Down from sheri zeck on Vimeo.

Very Nice. from sheri zeck on Vimeo.

Wondering ... from sheri zeck on Vimeo.

Untitled from sheri zeck on Vimeo.

So there you go. Are my girls talented or what?! 
Now, if you're in the mood for a little reading material, I invite you to check out my story, "Head Over Heels" which was previously published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Dating Game.

"Head Over Heels" describes one of my most memorable dates with Curt. Of all things, we went skiing. But there was just one problem ... I had no idea how to ski. 
Have a great week everyone!
0 Comments

My Week in Pictures

8/3/2015

0 Comments

 
It's week TWO of my summertime blogging format! In case you didn't hear, I'm focusing more on my family (and a tad less on my blog) until the end of August. I'll still meet you here every Tuesday, but things might look a little different than usual. Thanks for stopping by!  
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then I'd say I outdid myself this week. Just thought I'd share a few of my favorites ...

Do you ever feel like you're being watched? One day while the girls were swimming we spotted someone spying on us from the timber in our backyard. Look very closely and you will see. Need some help? I zoomed in on our little stalker in the second photo. 
Picture
Picture
I spy with my little eye ... a baby deer!
I like to call this next photo, "Softball at Sunset."
Picture
Picture
And a word of caution to all you t-ball parents ... DON'T BLINK!
Picture
Madison's softball team won first place at their tournament. What better way to celebrate than a swimming party?!
Picture
And this was the moment, after watching Taylor play several softball games on a sweltering hot, 90 degree day, when Emily and I realized they still had one more game to play for the championship.

And how about an oldie but goodie?
If you're looking for a little more reading material, I highly recommend my slightly embarrassing story, Keeping Company with Cows. Because sometimes farm kids have to make their own fun. And that’s what I did one time when my parents left me alone with a bunch of cows. You'll never guess what I did to entertain myself …
0 Comments
    Like me on Facebook!
    Follow Blog via Email

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner


    Archives

    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    May 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013

    Categories

    All
    Attitude
    Contentment
    Farm Memories
    Fear
    Friendship
    Glimpses Of God
    Gratitude
    Guest Posts
    Guest Posts
    Lessons From My Kids
    Marriage
    MS
    Parenting/Motherhood
    Patience
    School Visits
    Writing Journey

    Picture

    I am a member of COMPEL Training

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.