What it feels like being a chess mom - a nice interview

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011

Hello everyone,

Happy chess everyone and Happy Mother's Day everyone.
Just the occasion to share this lovely piece written by Claudia V. Muñoz – Mother of WCM Claudia Muñoz.


What it feels like being a chess mom

Being a chess mom has really been a blessing for me. I have experienced different types of emotions such as, amazement, nervousness, crying, happiness, and frustration but the most important - a closer relationship with God. I will be sharing in other articles some of my experiences in detail. As for now, I simply want to share with you what it has meant for me to be a ¨chess mom¨.

Being a Chess Mom means overcoming your emotions

The first time that I saw my beautiful, tiny, sweet, and calm daughter play her first game I was nervous. My nerves were EVERYWHERE watching her play, my heart pounding wanting to escape its place, I could hear my heart beat in my ears as I saw Claudia’s feet dangling from the chair. I would ask myself:

¨Will she move the knight correctly?
¨Will she say adjust? ¨
¨Will she remember to castle? ¨

Keep in mind that my insight in chess is only to the extent of her first couple of lessons. Will she remember to write her game? Will she lose on purpose if her opponent asks politely or cries?

Oh yes!! I can still remember that day!I say crying because seeing that tiny child with pig tails and missing teeth, of yours, win a first place trophy in a State Championship makes any mom very proud and emotional.

Being a Chess Mom means overcoming the obstacles others lay before your child

I have cried for the way other people have acted against my daughter but I will not get fully into this right now. The emotions of anger, frustration, and disappointment at how adults use chess politics to place speed bumps on other children have never affected my daughter. This is when we parents must take the time to use these experiences as educational lesson.

Being a Chess Mom is watching the relationship between my daughter and chess

It never ceases to amaze me how Claudia can concentrate and focus for three hours in a game. It is amazing how your child chooses not to watch television or go swimming in order to study a chess position. I am amazed at her dedication to be the best that she can be. I am also amazed at her ability to sit and absorb what her handsome coach (father) teaches her. I believe this is very important to both coach and student because that way your child feels everyone is on the same journey.

Being a Chess Mom is learning to tap into emotional strength needed to develop your child into a Champion

Being a chess mom means learning how to help your child overcome every emotional hurdle. In my personal journey I have learned to get that strength from God. This does not mean that we believe God chooses the winners and the losers on the board because that would be ignorant; what I mean is to build a relationship with God so that we can overcome obstacles.

Instead of worrying, I have learned to give Him my cares.

Instead of hating those that do your child wrong, I have learned to love them, forgive them and pray for them.

Instead of haughtiness, I have learned to become simpler and more humble, always willing to assist anyone who needs our help.

Believe me when I say that it takes practicing the word of God when all these situations arise. It is something that we can do. We are a family that truly believes in the verse

“You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.” Philippians 4:13.

So, all in all, a Chess mom is more than being a Chess mom, its preparing your child to be an over comer.

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From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com

A chess mom's story

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011

Hi everyone,

It's fun reading stories by chess moms and chess dads. So, we decided to share this one we found at this link. Enjoy.

Even A Pawn Can Win A Game
by Lisa Nee

OK, I’ll fess up right now. There was a time when I did not know a pawn from a piece of pasta. I used to think “checkmate” was how an Aussie asked for the bill.

Even so, by a strange twist of fate, I have become a chess mom. Like soccer moms or dance moms, chess moms cart kids around to events that dominate the weekends. Still, chess is not much of a spectator sport. In fact, at the rated tournaments parents are not allowed in the room.

The only tournament I really enjoy is the unrated State Scholastic tournament held in Hartford every year. Because it is unrated the rules are different. Competitors play only within their own grade, in one huge room. Parents line the outer margins chugging coffee, pretending to be more interested in reading the paper than their kid’s performance.

On this day a year ago, I witnessed the best-played game I believe I will ever see.

Because there are so many matches being played simultaneously there are also fewer trained monitors. When a game is done the winner raises his or her hand and a qualified adult comes to the board and registers the result.

Chess is one of those strange games of strategy where you can win even if you haven’t. If your opponent says checkmate, it is up to you to prove you are not out of moves. If you agree you are in checkmate, game done. You lose. This is where youthful human nature can sometimes be the most powerful player in the room.

At this tournament a year ago, I was sitting at a table with a bunch of kindergarten and first grade parents. Moms and dads were coming back with stories of their daughters giving into a draw when it was not necessary, agreeing to a checkmate without investigation, and bowing to an opponent who was effectively brow beating.

So, I walked the room and saw as the ages increased, girls disappeared from the tables. There were seven in kindergarten, and three girls in first grade, and then the rare one or two girls playing up through 12th grade.

Then, I returned to the 10th grade tables where, it seemed from the brackets, a girl with an unpronounceable name was kicking butt and drawing quite a crowd. She had defiantly risen through the ranks by her intellect and skill, and now appeared to be applying all of her God-given assets. There she sat in a snug sweater, with a plunging neckline, pondering moves by tapping on her pouting lips with her perfectly manicured, red-painted fingertips, casually twirling her dark locks between turns.

When she batted her eyes and whispered, “checkmate,” these adolescent boys were defenseless.

When she stood that afternoon to receive the second place trophy, with jacket zipped up and hair pulled back, she looked shy and unsure. The little girls wanted to touch the trophy. She obliged, then turned on her heel and left. I asked my son if he knew her, he did not. But he reminded me, the most powerful player on the board is the Queen, nimble and gifted with the widest variety of moves. All the pieces are meant to defend the King, but even a Pawn can win a game.

All the world’s a stage, a chess board, a playground, an office, a family unit, where we all jostle to find our roles, pushing the pieces around, looking for the unique combination that will make for that perfect win.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com