It was a time of mixed emotions—part joy, part exasperation, and a whole lot of “What on earth is that incessant thumping?” A few months ago, my oldest son made the leap into middle school. Now sporting a plain polo shirt devoid of logos, he carries a distinct scent, often showcases a bit more sheen, enjoys sleeping in, and rolls his eyes as if it’s an Olympic sport. But these changes are typical markers of entering the pre-teen phase. What we didn’t see coming, however, was his newfound obsession with bottle flipping.
If you haven’t encountered this phenomenon, I’d love to know where you’re hiding so I can join you. We could enjoy takeout while sipping martinis and escaping the chaos of bottle flipping, which has taken over like a viral trend—much like the 2016 presidential election, except, unfortunately, it’s not ending anytime soon, and I’m not sure how much longer I can endure it.
Bottle flipping involves taking a partially filled plastic water bottle and flipping it (hence the name) in an attempt to have it land upright or upside down. Regardless of the outcome, every parent is now subjected to the relentless thumping of these bottles echoing through every corner of the house. Just when I thought the sound of a recorder was the worst I’d have to endure.
We recently hosted a sleepover for my son’s birthday. I thought, how much worse could five additional boys be? Well, they arrived armed with bottles, flipping them from the second-floor loft onto the tile below. I even suggested they change the water levels to create a more harmonious rhythm, thinking it might sound like a catchy tune. Spoiler alert: it didn’t work. Instead of music, I was treated to the cacophony of thuds, reminiscent of an MRI machine.
The chaos reached a tipping point when a few bottles burst, leading me to confront my next least favorite task: cleaning. I quickly shuffled them outside for their flipping endeavors, likely earning some ire from the neighbors in the process.
In a moment of frustration, I confided in a friend with older kids, who responded with the classic, “At least it’s not ____.” Feel free to fill in the blank with whatever you deem worse: drugs, bullying, clowns—you get the idea. She had a point; bottle flipping isn’t the end of the world. But it is (thump) the soundtrack of my life right (thump) now, (thump) and it’s testing my patience. “Can you please stop flipping that bottle for just one second?” (silence) Where was I again?
So yes, while bottle flipping might not be the worst challenge we face as parents, it’s undeniably irritating, serves little purpose, and feels like an unending case of the hiccups. And let’s be honest, nobody enjoys having the hiccups.
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Summary:
Bottle flipping, a viral trend among kids, has taken over many households, introducing a new source of parental annoyance. While it may not be the worst behavior a child can exhibit, the constant thumping of bottles can drive any parent to distraction. Through personal anecdotes, the article highlights the challenges of navigating this phase while also offering links to related topics in home insemination.