In the whirlwind of parenting three little ones under five, mornings hold a rare semblance of order. I craft my day like a delicate tapestry in the stillness before dawn, only to watch it unravel the moment the kids wake. As the hours slip away, chaos inevitably takes over. By evening, I find myself frayed once more. Yet, those quiet mornings are mine to command, and I approach them with military precision. I brew coffee, pack the kids’ lunches, let the dog out while issuing stern warnings against barking, and finally slide into my chair at the kitchen table, armed with coffee, breakfast, and a dash of news.
Don’t be misled; the “news” I consume is hardly breaking. I skim through highlights on Twitter, scroll my Facebook feed, and glance at articles from The New Yorker, all mostly for appearances. But the real key to my morning routine is the app I dare not open until I’ve fortified myself with sustenance and a moment of peace: TimeHop.
On the surface, TimeHop promises to be the cinematic montage of our lives—a digital slideshow designed to evoke smiles, laughter, and perhaps a cringe or two at past hairstyles we once adored. In practice, however, it often feels like an emotional rollercoaster, especially for me as a parent to a child with special needs.
Not long ago, TimeHop served as a cheerful stroll down memory lane. Yet, five years have passed, bringing with them months spent in the NICU, countless therapy sessions, fittings for leg braces, and an ever-growing collection of wheelchairs—each one larger than the last, akin to nesting dolls. Alongside these challenges, we’ve also celebrated firsts: first steps, first bites, first words, and first friends at school.
Using TimeHop is akin to playing slots in Las Vegas. Will I be greeted by the joyful memory of my kids sharing a wagon ride last spring, hands clasped together for a fleeting moment captured in a photo? Or will I revisit the stark reality of a NICU room from four years ago, with the rhythmic hum of the incubator that served as our son’s first home?
Perhaps I’ll see a snapshot of him standing proudly with his physical therapist, radiating trust and determination. Or, I might be transported back to a pediatrician’s office, where trains provided fleeting entertainment while we awaited a pneumonia diagnosis. In truth, the gamble often feels too risky to take.
Yet, I find that TimeHop can unveil truths that my muddled mind struggles to articulate. My son has never adhered to the conventional timeline. He recognized the alphabet before he could speak, identified numbers and colors, and demonstrated a remarkable musical affinity before he even took his first steps. He, like many children with special needs, is a time traveler, defying predictable development.
We’ve learned not to confine them to the limitations of developmental charts—such a mundane concept. They are quantum leapers, navigating unpredictable sequences of events. They embody the wormholes of the universe, granting access to realms we cannot always traverse through logic or the steady march of conventional milestones.
This is why my morning routine includes a moment with TimeHop. It offers a stark reflection of our journey, reminding me of what has transpired. If I ever feel tempted to long for a linear developmental path, TimeHop places its bets on the unpredictable and reaffirms my belief that there’s a pattern to the chaos.
It provides tangible evidence that while our journey may not follow a straight line, it is undoubtedly leading us somewhere significant—somewhere worth the risks. If I allow it, TimeHop shares messages of hope, both from the recent and distant past. But first, I need that cup of coffee.
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In summary, Facebook’s TimeHop feature can evoke a complex mix of nostalgia and reflection, especially for parents of children with special needs. It serves as a reminder of the unpredictable yet meaningful journey we all share.