Leaving Castle Caladan

[Zues126]

Thank you Painter. I've started looking through that site. I wish I had two years ago. Tremendous resource, and it has good information about some questions that are still on my mind. It is a bit heartbreaking though. The fact that there are precedents and rules governing every horrible contingency is evidence of how rampant the destruction of families is. It is good for me to gain some competence in a few areas, but too much time on that site could be a downer. It makes DB forums look like a pizza party!

I'm going to see what my L suggests in regards to XW's disdain of our parental agreement. I'll mention parental classes and see what she thinks.

Perfectionism is a strange bird. I'm not too worried about it. I have changed a lot the last few years, and while I might lean that way I am at least simply towards the narrow end of the bell curve, and not actually defining the end like I once did. It is something I can manage as opposed to having it manage me. But you're right, sometimes I regret letting go. It feels a little bit like in Superman II when he lost his super powers. I used to have unlimited energy, tremendous drive, and could practically jump over tall buildings. Now I just do my best and it's mediocre in many ways. But then again I am no longer living in constant pain, I can relate to my children, and I feel more free to live my life. So I guess I'll let the others win the 'salesman of the year' or get their pictures on the front cover of magazines. I'm happy just taking my kids to bingo.

But who am I kidding...I still have a little pep in my step. I am not going crazy with overpreparation for their chess tournament on 12/3, I promise I'm not. But I'll be damned if they are so unprepared that they hang a piece in their first 3 moves. We watched a video yesterday on "Black's top 10 replies to 1. e4", and it did a quick outline of everything from "Owen's Defense" to "The Sicilian". I have flash cards made up for them with the name of the opening on one side, and the moves for black, for white, and general themes of each of these opening on the back. We'll spend a little time today and over the next few weeks so when they start the game at least they have some ideas of what is going on. Oh- and I was playing D6 for a while with just my knights...she wasn't doing so well, she refused to develop all of her pieces, and she drove my nuts because she'd pick up a piece sometimes and then start sliding it around the board without knowing for sure where she wanted to move it. So the new rules as of yesterday is that as of move 15 any piece other than the king and rooks that are still on the back rank die automatically, and if she picks up a piece and doesn't immediately place it where she wants to move it, that piece dies too. We played two games like this, and LO AND BEHOLD, her entire army was mobilized, she started thinking before she moved, and she looks like a freaking chess player. Patting myself on the back.

Don't worry, this is only a couple of hours out of our weekend, we'll have time for reading, homework, movies, and some fun and games. If chess isn't their calling I won't push it. But I want them to at least get some exposure to it before they make that decision. I love games and have learned a lot from them. I don't know why musical instruments and foreign languages are required in school and games like chess are considered optional after school activities. In my world games teach so much, and while I don't want my kids to dedicate their life to a game like I did, I at least want them to understand what it means to train and compete.

Have a great weekend all!