I’m so glad that the PWBA tour is in full swing. It’s fun to be back on the lanes with the best of the best. I felt like my first two events were definite building blocks. My goal is to always feel stronger, each time I jump onto the lanes. But the first two events were lacking something important. Something that was constantly on my mind. 

My family.

Don’t get me wrong. I loved being back out on the lanes in competition. I had craved that. I could feel how strong my body had become from the training that I had done. And I felt so strong in my knees as I was finishing each shot. All of that time in the gym, strengthening my body – my legs, my hips, everything – was worth it. At one point, I bowled 12 games in a day without feeling any issues in my body – AND I also wasn’t even sore the next day.

Being back like that – well, it felt incredible.

And, for the first time in a while, after hours, after the games, I was hanging out with only bowlers. Not my family. My kids couldn’t come with me on those stops yet as the school year wasn’t finished yet. So, instead of hanging out with my family, I was with bowling friends. I adore them, and fully admire their commitment and accomplishments. We had so much fun. Many times reminiscing about the past, and really appreciating the time we were able to spend. 

Yet, when I was around my bowling friend during my evening hours off the lane, it also reminded me who I wasn’t with – and where the largest portion of my identity is now. It’s beyond the lanes, with my family. I found myself wishing John and the kids could be there with me.

Now my life (and heart) is filled up with my family. My kids. 

I know I talk a lot about staying in the present moment. Trust me. My mental game is still fully focused the moment I step on the lanes. But the moment I step off of the lanes, my commitment is to my family. Even though I have a strong mental game, and I’ve done so much physical strength training, I’m not the same bowler I was when I committed full-time to the sport. And, that’s really ok. When I make mistakes, don’t make the cut and don’t find a way to get there… I keep it in perspective. My life looks different now and I’m not  committing my life to bowling in the same way. 

Don’t get it twisted, though. I still want to win. And, I know that I still can.

When I was bowling a couple weeks ago, I’ll admit that almost every moment off of the lanes, my mind was also jumping ahead. I was thinking about getting home to my kids. About just being there in their energy. Attending the dance recitals. Ball games. And getting ready for these next tour stops I am on now – where I’ll be with them.

Now that school’s out, I can finally bring them along. That sounds so simple but it brings me so much joy.

So, at the end of the day, I’ll be leaving the pins and the scores wherever they land, no matter what way things are going. And I’ll step away from the lanes – with my kids.

That makes the next leg of the tour extra special. It’s when I can sort of merge my two worlds for a short period of time.

Being in the energy of Madden and Jersey while bowling always feels so good. So positive. So supportive. When they accompany me, I can feel their presence and positivity. Having them there just makes me smile. 

There’s a lot of intentionality behind my choice to have my kids with me on tour as often as I can.

But it’s the moments between or after the games that brings me even more joy. As much as I love feeling their energy while I’m out on the lanes, the moments in between games with my kids give me life. Those are the moments that fill me up. So. Full.  

The ice cream stops. The silly photos. The excitement around the hotel continental breakfast. 

I appreciate those slower in-between moments so much that I very intentionally go out of my way to create more of them with my kids. The ice cream stops, the stories we tell at dinner, exploring new places. When I look back on these summers in five or ten years, I know I won’t have regrets.

I can’t get this summer back. So I intentionally create as many moments with the people I love as I possibly can. And it’s mind-boggling how quickly more than a decade has gone by. Suddenly I’m on tour this year with a 9-year-old and an almost 13-year-old (he’ll be 13 later this summer).

This is also something that I tell my EYT families all of the time too. Years from now, it’s the memories made away from the lanes with friends and family that are strongest. They’ll be what you remember years later. I know I am not going to remember all of the details on the lanes, whether they’re good shots or missed pins. 

I AM going to remember how I felt off of the lanes – with my kids and my husband behind me. Those memories  made together will be precious one day. Those moments – with those people – matter more to me in the world than anything else.

That’s how I am living each day of the upcoming tournaments. 

On the lanes, you’ll see me putting as much stock as ever into my mental game and staying present. My focus will be on getting lined up. Repeat shots. But after each game… You’ll find me and the kids in search of the biggest ice scoop!