The days are long but the years are short

Motherhood is a unique journey that has its particular set of challenges, rewards, and profound insights.

And I bet you have often heard: "Enjoy and savor every moment because time flies." Although the phrase has become a major cliché, it's true.

This year, Olivia turned 10, and it made me revisit one of the most poignant observations that I, and probably many mothers, have faced over time, "the days are long, but the years are short."

When I first came across the sentence, I confess it took me some time to comprehend its deep meaning.

Initially, it didn't make much sense. Still, when I reflected upon it more carefully, the phrase struck me with clarity.

It brought me back throughout the years, even before Olivia was born.

During my pregnancy, especially the last trimester, it felt like I was living in an eternity of uncertain tomorrows.

My anxiety was on the roof. And if there's one thing those nine months taught me, it's that time never passes more slowly than when you're counting down the days till motherhood!

Another example was when she was little and woke up every 2 hours. I was lucky because it lasted only a few months.

However, I still remember wondering if it was actually possible that she would sleep through the night one day.

But the most difficult was the weekends, during the boiling summer days in Dubai with a highly energetic toddler.

An hour in a soft play area was insufficient to fill at least 12 hours of her waking hours. And this is just one day out of 2!

The sentence 'the days are long, but the years are short' couldn't be more appropriate on those days. And I guess we've all been there one way or another.

Research shows that performing familiar or repetitive tasks decreases the perception of time passage.

This is particularly true with motherhood since much of the job consists of repetitive activities such as feeding and changing diapers that can become mundane and stretch out an uneasy feeling of time passing too slowly.

Regardless, as much as I still remember some of those long days with a bit of a shudder, I've never thought of them as dismissive because they shaped the foundation of our family life and Olivia's development. 

Yes, of course, it was tiring, and sometimes I felt like I was running on empty.

Yet, the days during those early motherhood years were filled with more than just exhaustion and frustration.

Without the long days, I would not have been able to appreciate the small moments that shaped my perspectives.

And every dull, painful, stressful, or joyful moment was part of a much longer journey.

That is to say, the perception of time can be pretty intriguing. As much as it has flown now that Olivia is 10, I have so many memories that fitting it all into one decade seems impossible.

It's a funny feeling. On the one hand, I perceive the years went by so quickly, and it scares me to think she will be off to college in a heartbeat. But, on the other hand, I feel as if she's been with us forever.

Apparently, there is an explanation for it, and it's related to the memories we accumulate as our life goes on.

According to experts, the more compelling and emotional memories from our past, the more we sense as if it was longer than what is suggested by the calendar.

It explains why, despite the years passing by so quickly, it still feels like she's been in our lives for as long as I can remember.

A decade has passed in the blink of an eye, and we can hardly believe how much we've done.

From her first milestones to mastering skills, our journey together through these past ten years is filled with cherished moments around every corner!

And having one child makes me appreciate those occasions with such intense gratitude and joy.

I'm probably in the minority, but I don't recall Olivia's early days as a bittersweet time.

Those days were filled with nothing short of incredible affection and joy (and exhaustion!).

Still, as she grows into a pre-teen, I feel just as blessed to be on this journey, watching her flourish.

There are so many unique moments that each new phase brings - it feels like such an honor being here in the front row!

Ultimately, I am grateful for every single long day that seemed to last forever but also for those years passing by at full speed. 

My advice? Embrace the long days, and make the most of them by creating meaningful memories you and your child will carry for a lifetime.

Because in the end, the years might be short, but what you've built together during the long days will last forever.