--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have noticed,” she said slowly, “that…" description: "\"“I have noticed,” she said slowly, “that time does not really exist for mothers, with regard to their children. It does not matter greatly how old the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/diana-gabaldon-185_blink-of-an-eye_i-have-noticed-she-said-slowly-that-time_486244.jpg" --- # I have noticed,” she said slowly, “that time does not… ![“I have noticed,” she said slowly, “that time does not really exist for mothers, with regard to their children. It does not matter greatly how old the child is—in the blink of an eye, the mother can see the child again as it was when it was born, when it learned to walk, as it was at any age—at any…” quote by Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/diana-gabaldon-185_blink-of-an-eye_i-have-noticed-she-said-slowly-that-time_486244.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/diana-gabaldon-185_blink-of-an-eye_i-have-noticed-she-said-slowly-that-time_486244.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/diana-gabaldon-185_blink-of-an-eye_i-have-noticed-she-said-slowly-that-time_486244.jpg) > ““I have noticed,” she said slowly, “that time does not really exist for mothers, with regard to their children. It does not matter greatly how old the child is—in the blink of an eye, the mother can see the child again as it was when it was born, when it learned to walk, as it was at any age—at any time, even when the child is fully grown and a parent itself.”” [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote reflects a mother's timeless bond with her child, suggesting that love transcends chronological age and that mothers perceive their children as perpetually youthful. **In simple terms:** Mothers see their children as always young, regardless of age. Key Takeaway Cherish the enduring emotional connection with loved ones. Themes family parenthood time memory love Mood nostalgic warm reflective Type emotional philosophical When to use this quote - parent‑child reunions - elderly care - family gatherings - storytelling sessions Key Concepts maternal bond perception of time emotional continuity intergenerational relationships Questions to Reflect On - How does time feel different for parents? - In what ways does memory shape our perception of loved ones? A Different Perspective The sentiment may romanticize motherhood and overlook individual experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blink of an eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blink-of-an-eye/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Exist Mothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exist-mothers-2756361/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Mother child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother-child/) [Mothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mothers/) [Mothers Regard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mothers-regard-2756362/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Time does not really exist for mothers, with regard to their children. It does not matter greatly how old the child is-in the blink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/time-does-not-really-exist-for-mothers-with-regard-to-their-children/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“not really exist for mothers, with regard to their children.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/not-really-exist-for-mothers-with-regard-to-their-children/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“I love you as the mother of my child": the kiss of death. Mother of His Child: demotion. I am beginning to see this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-finnamore/i-love-you-as-the-mother-of-my-child-the-kiss-of-death-mother-of-his/) [Suzanne Finnamore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-finnamore/) > [The mother is the child's supreme parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/havelock-ellis/the-mother-is-the-child-s-supreme-parent/) [Havelock Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/havelock-ellis/) > [“At the moment of giving birth to a child, is the mother separate from the child? You should study not only that you become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dogen-zenji/at-the-moment-of-giving-birth-to-a-child-is-the-mother-separate-from/) [Dogen Zenji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dogen-zenji/) > [Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. You do not collect children because you find them cuter than stamps. It is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-l-andersen/motherhood-is-not-a-hobby-it-is-a-calling-you-do-not-collect-children/) [Neil L. Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-l-andersen/) > [“I am the mother of this child. I am the one who carries it in her body. I am the giver of its life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-brooks/i-am-the-mother-of-this-child-i-am-the-one-who-carries-it-in-her-body/) [Terry Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-brooks/) > [Being a mother means that your heart is no longer yours; it wanders wherever your children do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/being-a-mother-means-that-your-heart-is-no-longer-yours-it-wanders/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [There's a kind of intimacy that happens between a mother and an only child. Which only gets more intimate when it's between a mother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-newman/there-s-a-kind-of-intimacy-that-happens-between-a-mother-and-an-only/) [Leigh Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-newman/) > [Almost 30 years before Rwanda, before Darfur, more than 2 million people – mothers, children, babies, civilians – lost their lives as a result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/almost-30-years-before-rwanda-before-darfur-more-than-2-million/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“A mother never abandons her child, even when he seems to want it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/a-mother-never-abandons-her-child-even-when-he-seems-to-want-it/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [“I have learned that the love a mother has for her child is unique among human emotions. Every mother knows this insticntively, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-scottline/i-have-learned-that-the-love-a-mother-has-for-her-child-is-unique/) [Lisa Scottline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-scottline/) > [However time or circumstances may come between mother and her child, their lives are interwoven forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-brown/however-time-or-circumstances-may-come-between-mother-and-her-child/) [Pam Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-brown/) > [I was a single mother when my child was little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-allred/i-was-a-single-mother-when-my-child-was-little/) [Gloria Allred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-allred/) > [I steadfastly believe that there is no greater love than that between a mother and a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carter-cash/i-steadfastly-believe-that-there-is-no-greater-love-than-that-between/) [John Carter Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carter-cash/) ## More by Diana Gabaldon > [Alright, all right," I said. "What if I tell you a story, instead?" Highlanders loved stories, and Jamie was no exception. "Oh, aye, "…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/alright-all-right-i-said-what-if-i-tell-you-a-story-instead/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [There were moments, of course. Those small spaces in time, too soon gone, when everything seems to stand still, and existence is balanced on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/there-were-moments-of-course-those-small-spaces-in-time-too-soon-gone/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [If it was a sin for you to choose me . . . then I would go to the Devil himself and bless him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/if-it-was-a-sin-for-you-to-choose-me-then-i-would-go-to-the-devil/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [When I turned 35, I thought, 'Mozart was dead at 36, so I set the bar: I'm going to start writing a book on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/when-i-turned-35-i-thought-mozart-was-dead-at-36-so-i-set-the-bar-i-m/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I stagger out of bed, take the dogs outside, and then I'll get a Diet Coke and a couple of dog biscuits and go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-stagger-out-of-bed-take-the-dogs-outside-and-then-i-ll-get-a-diet/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“It was…hard. 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"D'ye mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/we-are-bound-you-and-i-and-nothing-on-this-earth-shall-part-me-from/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I think characters are going to be, if not a reflection of the author, at least some refraction of some part of their personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-think-characters-are-going-to-be-if-not-a-reflection-of-the-author/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [My husband asked me once why I read so many mysteries, and part of it is just intellectual, part of it is the joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/my-husband-asked-me-once-why-i-read-so-many-mysteries-and-part-of-it/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“My Da says you’re never drunk, so long as ye can hold on to the floor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/my-da-says-you-re-never-drunk-so-long-as-ye-can-hold-on-to-the-floor/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [When you're an artist, you can't write with the intent of affecting anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/when-you-re-an-artist-you-can-t-write-with-the-intent-of-affecting/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“But a man is not forgotten, as long as there are two people left under the sky. One, to tell the story; the other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/but-a-man-is-not-forgotten-as-long-as-there-are-two-people-left-under/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“I didn’t answer, occupied in dissolving the penicillin tablets in the vial of sterile water. I selected a glass barrel, fitted a needle, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-didn-t-answer-occupied-in-dissolving-the-penicillin-tablets-in-the/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) [Explore all 952 Diana Gabaldon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) ## More Blink of an eye quotes > [Looking back at the days you were sitting next to me, feels like it would last forever. In a blink of an eye, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-el-hallab/looking-back-at-the-days-you-were-sitting-next-to-me-feels-like-it/) [Mahmoud El Hallab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-el-hallab/) > [“sleep soon!” Rapture From Temporal to Eternal In the blink of an eye. Skinned, deboned And winged to fly!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-torridon/sleep-soon-rapture-from-temporal-to-eternal-in-the-blink-of-an-eye/) [Daniel Torridon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-torridon/) > [Always tell someone how you feel, because opportunities are lost in the blink of an eye but regret can last for a lifetime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-tell-someone-how-you-feel-because-opportunities-are-lost-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“in the blink of an eye, one’s whole world could take a swan dive; the elevator from heaven to hell was a fast-moving one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sierra-rose/in-the-blink-of-an-eye-one-s-whole-world-could-take-a-swan-dive-the/) [Sierra Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sierra-rose/) > [“I am 1324512000 seconds old. 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My life, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/i-could-heal-you-no-he-says-sharply-enough-that-it-startles-me/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“Everything turns slower when she’s not around, but when she’s with me, an hour feels like a blink of an eye.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rea-lidde/everything-turns-slower-when-she-s-not-around-but-when-she-s-with-me/) [Rea Lidde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rea-lidde/) > [“No. I don't want the love at first sight That sears my heart Like a bolt of lightning And disappears in the blink of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sowmya-thejomoorthy/no-i-don-t-want-the-love-at-first-sight-that-sears-my-heart-like-a/) [Sowmya Thejomoorthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sowmya-thejomoorthy/) > [Life can change in the blink of an eye. All you have is right now. So don’t ever put off telling someone how you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-potter/life-can-change-in-the-blink-of-an-eye-all-you-have-is-right-now-so/) [Alexandra Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-potter/) > [“No, my point is that life on earth can take of itself. In the thinking of a human being, a hundred years is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/no-my-point-is-that-life-on-earth-can-take-of-itself-in-the-thinking/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) [Browse all 279 Blink of an eye quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blink-of-an-eye/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I have noticed,” she said slowly, “that time does not really exist for mothers, with regard to their children. 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