Before kids and after: how motherhood reshapes our sense of time

How Motherhood Reshapes Our Sense of Time

Learn why days feel shorter yet fuller, and discover simple practices to ease time pressure in early parenthood.

Time bends in early parenthood, making days feel endless and years flash by. Motherhood interrupts time as we know it, reshaping our sense of time.

Before kids, tasks could be stacked, and time could be spent wandering a grocery aisle or lingering over coffee. After kids, time revolves around nap time, pickup windows, and the constant needs of tiny ones.

Today’s parent is expected to do more than ever before.

The clock still moves at the same pace, yet hours feel crowded, elastic, and precious. A sense of time matters, as it shapes how steady we feel as parents. When minutes are choppy, decision fatigue rises.

However, by acknowledging the changes and establishing rhythms that suit this new season, the day can become softer.

Author's summary: Motherhood reshapes sense of time.

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Motherly Motherly — 2025-10-30

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