The Bowers Family

[John]

THE BOWERS FAMILY

[IMG]images/img/MmM_132_72.jpg[/IMG]

Pictured L-R: "Traded Spouse" Samantha Pilek with the Bowers family - Katie, Craig and Erik.


The Bowerses are loud, funny and irreverent.

Lisa Bowers is a child of the 1960s who was taught to be independent, carefree, and to always question authority. Today, as Mom to Katy and Erik, Lisa encourages the same of her children. Lisa speaks to Katy and Erik openly about sex, drugs and other taboo topics some parents have difficulty discussing. Says Lisa "Why wait? Kids need to be prepared for the real world early on."

Lisa married her husband Craig at an early age. *When times got financially tough, she went back to school and became a dental hygienist. *Lisa is headstrong, determined, carefree, and willing to laugh at herself and her family. She doesn't cook. *In fact, she is so terrible at cooking that her family insists that Craig take on those responsibilities.

Craig works in the food service industry and calls his family "wicked dysfunctional." He is also a Red Sox fanatic. On Sundays, he and the kids wake up at 4:30 am to deliver papers. The extra money earned from their weekly newspaper delivery is saved for a yearly vacation.

Lisa and Craig have very different views on disciplining their two children, Katy and Erik. Craig is the tougher of the two parents. "Lisa tends to be their buddy," says Craig. Ask the kids what they think, and they'll tell you that neither parent is tough.

Katy, 14, is a tomboy at heart who refuses to wear her hair down and loves sports. She hates shopping, doesn't wear makeup, and loves to bowl. Her brother Erik, 12, weighs over 200 pounds and stands almost six feet tall. He is poised to be a professional football player, a dream that his parents and coach support. Erik is a sensitive person with a huge heart, and wears his emotions on his sleeve. He is also protective of his sister and of his family.

Together, the family plays games at night and loves to go bowling. They also enjoy camping and just "cruising" together in the car. They agree on their music - Lisa loves popular music and be-bops around the house to it while cleaning - and truly enjoy each other's company. Though the family is nervous about being without their mom and wife for awhile, they are also anticipating a new adventure that they will forever remember.

[Unklescott]

I can feel the tension already.

[Igotalife]

Craig works in the food service industry and calls his family "wicked dysfunctional."

What is the wicked part supposed to mean?

[John]

Well, if you're from the Boston area, it means "extremely".

[Igotalife]

Thanks for the translation John (you know I'm a fogey and all).

I just noticed Dad Bowers shirt... A man that can wear a shirt like that is going to ge good for a few laughs.

[Sunshine62923]

OK - this might sound like a stupid question... but how tall are the rest of the people in the picture if the boy is supposedly 6 feet tall?

That would make the Dad and traded Mom "wicked" tall!

[John]

Where does it say the boy's 6 feet tall?

[Duxxy]

Up there ^^^

Erik, 12, weighs over 200 pounds and stands almost six feet tall.

they're at a bowling alley - maybe everyone but Erik is standing on the lane??

[did_it_again]

Culture clash. Here is what I want to see. I want to see the Rich blond get up and deliver papers on Sunday morning and watch her squel.

[gcue]

everyone thinks it's the rich mom who won't fit in / be able to handle the situation. Anybody think that maybe the rich "positive" west coast woman will roll with the punches and the tough, bitchy, east coast mom will be the one having most of the problems?

just throwing it out there