'Parents gave zero F's': Kids repeatedly interrupt woman's bowling game while parents ignore their children

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Mar 23, 2023 5:00 PM EDT

This bowler struck out when they found their lane swarmed with little kids. As the OP tells it, she was trying to figure out if she was the a**hole in this scenario, because her friends think she is. The OP writes that while she was bowling with some friends on a weekend, she was in a lane near lots of kids. The weekends definitely are a time for parties, but the OP was annoyed that the kids kept going into her lane. Aside from the safety issues, the kids' parents wouldn't lift a finger to help keep their kiddos away from the OP's lane. 

The OP and her friends finally left, and the OP was clearly in a bad mood by then. She mentioned to the bowling alley staff that she was leaving because of the children running around. In the comments, people actually couldn't agree on if the OP was a jerk, the parents were, or in fact everyone involved sucks. 

Up next, check out why this person hosted the "Funniest interview I ever conducted."

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  • 01
    Font - 'AITA or a Karen for complaining about children in my bowling lane?'
    via Persnickety Prints
  • 02
    Font - r/AmItheA Posted by u/jesscubby AITA or a Karen for complaining about children in my bowling lane?
    via u/jesscubby
  • 03
    Font - I went bowling with some friends on the weekend so there were a lot of children's birthday parties there. Unfortunately, our group was placed in a lane next to one of the parties. The children looked about 4-6 years old with some related toddlers mixed in.
    via u/jesscubby
  • 04
    Font - I know children don't follow bowling etiquette, but these little ones were running out in front of us in our lane. Parents gave zero f is even though I told them to be careful before someone got hurt. After it was apparent we packed up and left.
    via u/jesscubby
  • 05
    Font - While checking out I was asked if we had a good time and I said "no, there were children in our lane the whole time that's why we were leaving." My friends called me a Karen and said kids will be kids and if you go to a bowling alley on the weekend you should expect to be around a few kids and parties. Am I the as ole here?!
    via u/jesscubby
  • 06
    Font - fyrdude58 Parta ant [1] I'm gonna be an iconoclast here. NTA. Once you asked the parents to keep their kids under control, you did your bit. The people running the place should be keeping an eye out, and if the parents can't control the kids, they should be asked to leave. If a kid got bowled over when they ran onto your lane, that's on the parents and the bowling alley.
    via u/fyrdude58
  • 07
    Font - FrederickChase Colo-rectal Surgeon [33] NTA. Kids will be kids, but parents need to watch their kids. It's not the other bowlers' responsibility to do so. You couldn't do what you paid to do because the parents didn't watch their kids. Now, if you blamed the bowling alley employees, that would be different since most probably can't tell parents to watch their kids. But just answering honestly isn't wrong.
    via u/FrederickChase
  • 08
    Font - LlamaMamaMandi NTA - you didn't throw a fit, or berate anyone. The feedback to the bowling alley employee was valid, perhaps they will consider lane placement differently in the future, or maybe they won't care. You mentioned it, and left. As a parent, I have the responsibility for my child's safety, and I wouldn't have allowed that with my kid. The parents are the a 5, the bowling alley employee probably doesn't get paid enough to care.
    via u/LlamaMamaMandi
  • 09
    Rectangle - efultz76 A Enthusiast [5] You didn't complain about the kids while it was happening, you answered honestly when asked if you had a good time (which should be one of the alley's main goals). NTA, but those parents certainly are
    via u/efultz76
  • 10
    Rectangle - SavagePancakess Enthusiast [5] Actually she says she did talk to the parents, they just did nothing. A
    via u/SavagePancakess
  • 11
    Font - SavagePancakess As NTA. Enthusiast [5] Probably an unpopular opinion. But it's tiring to constantly have to be the one that has to make concessions because you are the one without kids. Why does it always have to be the child-free people that have to move because parents can't control their kids, even after being asked to? Why do they have to be the ones to go bowling at special times or places?
    via u/SavagePancakess
  • 12
    Font - LovelyRita999 Enthusiast [5] Gonna go with NTA. You were asked a question and answered honestly. A: And true, kids will be kids and if you go to a family-friendly place on a weekend you should expect to be around them. But they weren't just "around", they were actively interfering with the thing you paid for while their parents did f -all about it.
    via u/LovelyRita999
  • 13
    Font - [deleted] As someone who bowls on a league it is extremely dangerous to let children run in front of people swinging a heavy ball at the same height a child's head would be. I've had to jump on parents for this very reason when I've bowled for fun during open bowl times. Luckily when league is going on the alley doesn't allow open bowlers within several lanes of league bowlers because bowling etiquette is always ignored.
    via u/deleted
  • 14
    Font - FrumpyHedgehog Parta pant [4] "Kids will be kids" is an excuse used by lazy/bad parents in an attempt to justify not parenting. ΝΤΑ
    via u/FrumpyHedgehog
  • 15
    Font - janiemackxxx Parta pant [1] I'm going to get slack for this but I have to say YTA. You went at a time when you knew it was going to be packed to the brim with kids. If you didn't want to deal with that, you should have gone at a less child friendly time, or an adults only session. Sure. The parents need to control their kids better, but kids at parties are going to wander off occasionally. It's like going to a Pixar movie at 11 am on a Saturday and complaining the theater wasn't completel
    via u/janiemackxxx
  • 16
    Font - Holmes221bBSt A: Aficionado [19] ESH. It's true kids will be kids & you have to expect some rowdy kids to get in your way every now & then, especially at a busy bowling alley during a birthday party. The parents should've done something though. I'm sure they were distracted since there was a lot going on, but the very young ones should be watched. I always make sure my 4 yr old stays in our lane & if he drifts away, I'll give him to the count if 3 to get back.
    via u/Holmes221bBSt
  • 17
    Font - Skyyywalker215 A Aficionado [10] ESH. Parents should control their kids, but kids will be kids especially at young ages. If you want a kid free environment, find one of those adult bowling alleys.
    via u/Skyyywalker215
  • 18
    Font - DarkStar0915 Kids will be kids is a bs excuse. Parent your kid so they don't bother others and don't endanger themselves.
    via u/DarkStar0915

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aita kids friends bowling Party complaint karen parents
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