SOLVED. Folk tale of girl who wanders into woods for a few minutes, when she returns what were minutes to her were years to everyone else, so her mother is very old. [s]

[Becky]

The girl possibly meets fairies while in the woods? Or maybe she speaks to a friendly old woman while in the woods who reminds her to return home? Perhaps this story was in "East of the Sun, West of the Moon"?

[Becca]

It sounds like Dear Mili. This Maurice Sendak version is a standalone, but it's originally by Brothers Grimm so could have appeared in collections too.

[Becky]

That's the one, thanks!

[Becca]

Glad to help!