Learning to play chess with my son

I’m a mum of an eight year old boy.

Why is looking after your mental wellbeing important to you?

It helps me to stay well enough to keep doing the things I need to do and the things I enjoy doing.

What do you do to protect and improve your mental wellbeing?

I’ve recently enjoyed learning to play chess with my son.

It’s something I never got into as a kid. I found it too slow and too confusing to ever put in the time to learn. But my son came home from school one day saying he wanted to learn. So, he got a chess set from his grandparents for his last birthday and we’ve been learning together!

It’s been a nice way to connect with him (and to get him off the video games!).

I think starting at the same level has made it more fun for both of us, and I’m genuinely chuffed when I get a checkmate, although he still tends to beat me more often than not!

I like to think it’s good for his wellbeing as well as mine, and it really feels like quality time together.