It'll take a while, but not several years.
I'd say that it'd be between 1 - 2 yrs before you get some good roots to form on them before considering their removal. Who knows, it may even grow a sufficient amount of roots to consider keiki removal within a year as well (it'll be closer to the 1 yr mark).
The shoot itself will grow large enough within a year. It's the roots that take longer to grow out.
If you're worried mama plant's gonna keel, I don't think it's goin' anywhere.
Have you noticed your mama plant is gonna bloom?