How do you mow your lawn?

I haven't had to mow te lawn in about seven years. We have this really strange mower that I cannot for the life of me get started, whereas I never had the problem with any other mower. Thinking back, I just went up and down the grass, no special pattern. I know some people mow 'striped' into their lawn, but frankly I was always mostly worried about the little flying matchbox cars or pebbles or anything else the children would have left lying on the lawn when they were small. They never seemed to understand the damage that could do (and did once) when the blades threw them up into the air at that speed.

I don't know if there is a special reason to mow your grass in a certain direction. When I was growing up we always made laps around the yard till all of the grass was cut. Maybe she mows her lawn a certain way because she likes the way that looks whne she does it that way. You could always ask her why she mows her grass that way. She might give you some helpful hints.