Episode overview

In this episode, we pause on one simple line that stopped us in our tracks:
“We’ll know our children as adults far longer than we’ll know them as children.”

We take a trip down memory lane talk about how quickly the “little years” pass, why those toddler days feel so vivid, and what it’s like to suddenly realise we’re parenting almost-adults. From Peppa Pig pyjamas and Iggle Piggle shows to mascara, moods and slammed doors, we look at how our kids have changed – and how we have too.

If you’re feeling that quiet ache of “when did they grow up?”, this one is for you.

Key discussion points

• The moment that quote landed and why it brought up such a wave of emotion.
• Remembering the early years: buggies, board-on-the-pram days, Lapland trips, tiny hands and mispronounced words.
• How phones, constant entertainment and “never being bored” might be changing our kids’ sense of time.
• The identity shift for mums when we’re no longer needed every second and the house gets quieter.
• Grief and gratitude in the same breath – noticing that every stage feels like the hardest and the best, and every stage ends.

Listener takeaways

• You’re not imagining it – childhood really is a tiny window of time, and it’s normal to feel emotional when you notice it closing.
• It’s okay to miss the toddler years and still be utterly exhausted by them while you were in them.
• Presence matters more than perfection: your kids will remember how it felt to be with you more than the schedule, the craft, or the trip.
• This in-between age is confusing for them and for us – they want independence and reassurance at the same time, and so do we.
• One simple practice: notice one everyday moment today – the eye roll, the shared joke, the “mum, what’s for dinner?” – and mentally bookmark it as a memory you’ll miss one day.

Join the conversation

If this episode touched that tender place of “they’re growing up so fast”, we’d love to hear from you.

Come and share a favourite toddler memory, or what this teenage season feels like for you right now. Send us a DM or voice note on Instagram @youkeepmesane.pod

Join us over on Patreon for this week’s Sanity Check and more honest chats about motherhood, identity and this season of life shifts.

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Hosts: Aileen Harvey & Julie Fahy

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Disclaimer:

Remember, we’re two friends sharing our personal experiences and discussing everyday challenges. We’re not qualified coaches or therapists, and our content is for general information and supportive conversation only. If you need professional help, please seek advice from a licensed therapist.