Unescorted Minors - I expect the desk to take the lead.....but..........

[GeoLes]

Practice session tonight at National Lanes. There were three kiddie parties going at one time. I asked for 2 lanes, but only one was available. I am into my second step of my approach and I see two kids sprinting accross the approach at me. I stop, look at the kids, shake my head and say "no". They freeze in their tracks, turn and run the other way.

Three other kids start spinning and dancing on the approach of the vacant lanes with parents watching on.

As I check out 4 kids dash accross the floor above the bowling floor looking for balls. They find them and run back accross the same floor carrying their prizes.

As I check out, I mention the "unescorted minors" and specifically mention the kids running with bowling balls. I get a helpless look and shoulder shrug. " I can see one of these kids tripping on the ball face first", I say to the desk person. "A warning to the parent is easier than filling out an incidet report"

I understand the lanes need to make overhead, but there should be some safety standard enforement.

Rant over

[swingset]

Pepper spray, it's not just for stray dogs and muggers.

[ghoul31]

It amazes me how much bowlers hate children

[panbanger]

It's not so much that they hate children, it's that they didn't go to the alley to become somebody's part-time parent. It takes a village to raise a child? No, actually it doesn't. It takes two ideally, but one is sufficient.

When I was a minor my Dad took me bowling and I learned real quick the right way to behave. It wasn't a free-for-all while grown ups were hurling 16 pound weights through the air.

[75lockwood]

Honestly parents really should control their kids, the other day i was practicing only to watch a kid start throwing ball after ball down the lane only to have most pushed back towards the approach by the pinsetter arm. where were the parents? sitting there laughing at the kids attempting to damage the lane......

The manager (a friend of mine) had a few kind words for the parents lol

[Greenday]

It amazes me how much bowlers hate children

Wanting parents to control their kids really isn't asking for a lot.

[ArtVandelay]

I dont think its intentional irresponsible parenting. Id be willing to guess most parents view bowling as a game, not a sport. They let their kids have a bit more freedom because the risks arent fully known to the average parent (who likely isnt a league bowler).

But bowlers truly do seem to hate kids. Keep in mind, the childs experience at the lanes is very important. If you run them off, the game has no future. Try to let them enjoy themselves. You are the adult, control yourself. A stern "no," might not be the best response.

I use times like that to work on my mental game. Ive stopped myself during every phase of the approach but the release itself. And during league, Im almost unflappable by events and noise around me because Im prepared for anything. There are people who get pissed at the slightest thing thats happening during their approach. Try to not be one of those people, be unflappable.

Keep in mind, bowling is just a game. If it is paying for your living expenses, then please disregard this post. Otherwise..... Yup. Game.

[swingset]

It amazes me how much bowlers hate children

I don't hate my children, but then I don't let them run free under the feet of adults who are trying to concentrate swinging a 15lb weight.

[75lockwood]

It amazes me how much bowlers hate children

We don't hate children, i personally hate adults that don't control their children, if i go to swing a 15lb ball and a 4 year old appears right behind me just intime to be knocked off their feet by my back swing i would feel horrible, you wouldn't let a 4 year old loose in a construction yard, so would you let them loose in a bowling ally where there are ball's that can weight almost as much as them swinging around?

I personally bowl with a lot of young kids in youth league and by no means do i hate them or hate bowling around them, why? because they were taught how to behave in the bowling ally.

[ArtVandelay]

Does anyone else side with Carlin? Maybe we protect children too much these days? Anyone else remember playing baseball and hockey in the streets? I did all kinds of dangerous ****, and my parents might have been MORE dangerous than me when they were little. We all lived! I remember sitting on my grandmothers lap in he car as a child. It was a treat and not a big deal...