Way back when (gosh that makes me sound old LOL) I loved playing my records (Mary Poppins, Sound of Music, Jungle Book- then later, Donny Osmond & The Partridge Family) on my very own record player. I would carefully lift the “arm” that held the needle and place it gently so as not to scratch the grooves in the record. Scratches in the record meant the needle would stick there and it would repeat over and over until you finally lifted the needle and moved it past the glitch.
I try to remember that concept when working with Bethany. What a process of learning it has been for me- to understand how to help Bethany grow and develop! This picture popped into my brain one day as Bethie just could not seem to get off of a topic. Repeating things and getting stuck in her thought process is just one of Beth’s mental challenges. (actually, now that I think about it, I have the same mental challenges- I just know enough not to say them outloud. 🙂 )
Compare the brain in similarity to a record- yes, the old fashioned disc that played music! The grooves are like the synapses and neurons that when the
“needle” or electrical impulses play across the grooves correctly- music or the message comes across loud and clear. There is a physical chain of events that is occurring in the brain of someone with downs syndrome, (or Alzheimer’s, autism, etc.) Bethany has what I “see” as little glitches or scratches- in her brain pathways. Sometimes, the “needle” just gets stuck and she can’t seem to process past a certain idea or thought. It can get on your nerves to have someone asking the same question or not getting off a single thought. I’ve learned that it’s silly, not to mention unproductive, to get annoyed that she keeps repeating something or getting frustrated thinking “why doesn’t she understand this!” After all, she’s not doing it on purpose!
I’ve finally learned what to do to help her!
I’ve learned to “lift the needle.”
Her brain is stuck- there’s a scratch- a glitch. Just like the record can’t do much about itself repeating, she needs 
some “help” to jump forward. So—– I think, “what’s she thinking about? What’s the next logical thing? How can I help her jump forward in her thinking?” How can I “lift” the needle so she can press on? This approach has been successful and rewarding! I can see relief on her face that I understood what she was getting at. Totally different from distracting her or changing the subject- helping her complete the story to the next part of the narrative, she can then be satisfied she finished her whole thought process and communicated clearly.
So I was thinking- is Bethany really that different from me???? I have glitches- hang ups- ruts- things I get stuck repeating and can’t seem to get mentally or spiritually past so that I can move forward. I think we all do. We need our Heavenly Father to “lift our needle” and move us forward in our thinking and emotions. He doesn’t want us to be frustrated or stuck, but ever growing and maturing in our spiritual lives.
Surprising Treasure: Our Heavenly Father isn’t irritated, annoyed, frustrated, disappointed, belittling, or angry- when we get “stuck” in one place. “Life” can leave some pretty big scratches and grooves. He wants to gently lift the “needle” and put it back down in the next groove so we can move forward to the good things He has planned for His offspring!
Thanks for the encouraging words! I get so hung up on my own “glitches”…and I know that HE is wanting to help me…..
Love you!
So true! The big surprise for me is that He’s “listening” to my life and knows the millisecond I hit a glitch and wants to help me past it! 🙂 Hugs-
What a wonderful analogy Cindy! You should be writing that book. It would be so helpful for those that have no answers and those that are seeking. Sometimes I just sit in awe at your posts and think…”I never knew she had that in her” 🙂 Now that is not an insult, just my lack of observations ….I am always amazed at the works of God. Love ya bunches
Charlene0 LOL- I’m still amazed at what God puts in ALL of us so we can live this life with love and peace and victory. – His works are AMAZING!!! Hugs-
Love your metaphor. Will have to remember this one 🙂 Mary P.
Thanks Mary!
I needed this… thanks Bethany, and Cindy! I’m going to call on God to help me ‘lift the needle’ tomorrow when I grow weary and aggitated with my crew.
Amen Heidi!! As moms we need to be able to get our whole crew “unstuck” sometimes and move onto the next groove!
This is just beautiful, Cindy! Your whole concept for this website is simply a marvel. Every post blesses me in a new way. And to think that people can already be reading your book as it unfolds on these pages makes me just thank God for the blessing He’s given us to use through the developers of our current technology. <3 God sure blessed Bethany with the right Mama for her! I love you both all to pieces!
Oh Edy- I say that alot- don’t ever quit commenting! I love you all to pieces too and get so motivated to keep sharing my heart. <3
Skilled, professional educator that I am… Let me say this- I have read PhD dissertations that do come close to the simple profoundness of this method of circumventing the “learning glitch” you just described. Let’s all become “needle-lifters!” Because until we learn to that we are stagnate… and will never grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. I see a T-Shirt in the making too.
I like that- I feel like I’m “tuned” into being a needle lifter now and it’s really rewarding. 🙂 But a T-shirt honey? LOL
Cindy, besides “lifting my own needle”, this is inspiration for me to use at work. One of the part-time employees on my team is a young woman who is challenged with physical disability & past emotional trauma. We all converse minimally during our time together, but her usual greeting is “I don’t have to worry about those girls anymore, do I”? (This is referring to a situation we have no knowledge of, of course, likely many years in the past.) Our usual response has been to counter with, “What do you think, Shawna?” or “You know that’s true, Shawna”, and then on to her/our routine for settling down to work. (And, yes, she has been a gift to me many times, to help me to see my own glitches in my productivity!)
I’m thinking I might respond with, “Yes, Shawna, and what happens now?” or something similar. And a renewal of our patience with the realization that “she is not doing it on purpose”.
awesome- I think you’re right on also when you clarify and ask the question back to her. When Bethany asks me something we already have talked about, I ask her and half the time she knows the right answer. I don’t know if it’s her way to start a conversation with me or she just needs prompting to think about the answer before she asks. Blessings Cecilia- let me know how it works. 🙂
I have never thought of it like that. Justin has those hangups too. It helps me to see it in a different light. Thanks for sharing. Hugs to you dear friend. 🙂 Angela
Hugs back to you Angela! Our journey with our children is transforming US and THEM! It’s great to get any insight on how to move forward 😉