Staying out of the Gutter
Hygiene Chronicles | September 6This past weekend we went bowling with some friends. The first time they suggested it, we scoffed but reluctantly joined. It turned out to be great fun and we’ve done this now for years and really enjoy ourselves.
Bowling isn’t like it was when we were kids. They’ve added movies screens, great music and made it quite family friendly.One of the things I love most about bowling is my lack of consistency. Sometimes I’ll bowl a 98 and sometimes I’ll bowl a 160. It just depends. But it’s fun to know that each ten frames will be different from the last.
In the lane next to us, was a family of five; mom, dad and three kids that I would guess to be under the age of 10. They were having a great time as each took their turn. The kids would scream as mom & dad would spin the ball down out of control until the pins burst into the air. The parents would cheer as each child mustered up the strength to push their 8 pound ball down the alley at a pace slower than meal lines at a retirement village. And each time, everyone would cheer as at least one pin fell. Yep, the kids hit a pin every throw.
See, this bowling alley had gutter guards.
If you haven’t been bowling recently, there is a great new invention that allows ‘guards’ to pop up from the gutters and keep the balls going down the lane. Bowlers are guaranteed to hit pins and the scores for small kids can quickly move into the double digits. These allow everyone to try their best, but never completely fail.
One of the things I always hear in interviews is “how do you like to be managed?” My response is always the same, “I like to be managed like children’s bowling. Let me attempt to stay on course, but just give me a tap if it looks like about to fall.” It always gets a good laugh, but the true managers understand it. I usually end up working for those people.
It’s a good philosophy for parenting as well. Often we try to protect kids from completely failing or getting hurt. I was brought up as one of these kids and regret some of the things I missed due to someone’s well-intentioned, but restrictive guidance. We as parents need to remember mistakes are part of learning; in life and in bowling.
Great post.
I always forget how fun bowling is until I go again. The beer always helps.
Of course my child is the one throwing rocks at the pins to make them fall down.
I don’t know why bowling balls have to be so heavy. I like the throw the light ones, they pick up speed faster.
Great advice, never thought about bowling that way. I’ll try to remember that when I get sacked
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I love the bumpers. My husband and I in fact have invented a new game called bumper ball bowling which involves extra points for style, cheap beer consumed, and bank shots. Can I roll that into real life as well? I think I will.
David, my middle, went to a bowling birthday party six months ago and is still talking about it. Maybe, this weekend, we bowl.
You have the most creative answers for interviews. Between identifying your weakness as flossing and comparing good management to kids bowling, how could anyone not love you!?!?
I am so happy you found bowling . . . since I have seen your skee-shooting tape which is still floating around out there. Wonder what that sport would say for parenting techniques?
Just a note for Tony… as my dad (a great bowler in his day) always explained to me you always use as heavy a ball as possible because it needs to plow through the pins without changing direction too much. Of course for those of us who are no good that doesn’t help… I want it to bounce around because it might actually hit another pin. haha