John Y’s Musings from the Middle: Playing Chess

What does it mean to grow up?

When my son was four years old we were up late one night looking for something to do.

He grabbed a chess set and asked, “Want to play!?”

Taken aback by his enthusiasm, I said I did but admitted I really didn’t know how and he’d have to teach me.

He said it was easy and to sit down and he’s show me.

He divided the pieces and set them up in a way I didn’t recognize. I was waiting to be amazed that my 4 year old already knew how to play chess.

His first instruction was a shocker, though. He said what we do is slide the pieces across the board and try to “knock each others pieces down—like in bowling.”

I loved it! “Alright!” I said. “I think I’m gonna like this chess stuff.”

We played for about 30 minutes firing pieces back and forth. He added a few new rules (clarifications, really) along the way that ensured he would “win.” Which was cool.I wanted him to.

I was just thrilled to finally learn how to play chess. It always looked complicated and slow. But turns out it really isn’t. At least to a 4 year old.

A few years later my son taught me how grown ups play chess. It’s OK but, as I suspected, complicated and slow. I like the way 4 year olds play better. Not everything about being a grown up is all it’s cracked up to be.