Amélie turned 18 in April. As my firstborn, this was a rite of passage for me too. Reflecting on the years with my kids, it's like I've lived all those lives as well. I've had a front-row seat to their milestones and experiences, and it's been a wild ride!

Imagine measuring life not just by your own years, but by the combined experiences of those you've raised or been extremely close with. With four children, each milestone they reach adds layers to my own journey. When Amélie took her first steps, it wasn’t just a year added—it was a quantum leap into a new era of parenting. When Mika jumped off that first cliff into the deep, I felt the thrill and the fear in equal measure. When our beloved cat had to be put to sleep, I felt the profound grief that Eli felt. And when Mia broke her arm (twice, no less), I felt that excruciating pain right along with her.

Each lost tooth, every victory, every disappointment, and those quiet evenings spent watching and discussing the stars have crafted a fuller, deeper sense of time for me. Those moments aren't just memories; they're the building blocks of my own life story.

As my beloved ones grow, so too does the spectrum of my experiences. From sleepless nights with newborns to navigating the tricky waters of teenage individuality, each phase brings its own challenges and joys. From the first day of school to the first heartbreak, from teaching them to ride a bike to watching them ride off into their own adventures—each moment has enriched my life in ways I never imagined. It's like with each child, I've lived through an additional series of lifetimes, all converging into the collective century we share on our family timeline.

It's not just about watching them grow as simple a bystander—it's about sharing the emotional journey together. Their joys and setbacks become a poignant part of my own emotional fabric. Through parenting, I haven't just aged; I've lived more fully, savoring the wide spectrum of human experience.

So I'm turning fifty this month, and I started to calculate when my days alive and theirs cumulative would collide. That day is today!

Tomorrow, Amélie, Mika, Eli, and Mia collectively surpass me in time lived. On June 8th, 2024, the 18,241th day of my life, they combined have lived 18,241 days too. It's a beautiful symmetry that underscores the intertwined nature of our lives.

Check my calculations :P

Than ten days later, on June 18th 2024, we cumulatively hit 100 years, and than again twelve days later, I turn fifty. This last event feels insignificant because they've passed me, and I'm just trying to keep up. They can wave at me in their rearview mirror.

It's a bittersweet realization that as they move forward, blazing their own trails, I'm running after them helplessly. But that's the beauty of it—watching them grow and surpass me is a testament to the love and life we've shared. The sweet part of the realization is that the next collective 100 years milestone will be when I turn 70. Those years will be condensed in twenty laps around the sun filled with more milestones, more memories, and more love than I could have ever dreamed.

P.s. If you want to calculate the age of your family, let me know and I'll share the sheet with formulas with you.