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Trust versus mistrust occurs during infancy. It can help develop your trust in your caregivers. Were you fed, bathed and healthy? If so this probably helped build your trust. If not maybe you learn to have mistrust in your parents. Did you smile and try to grab your parents face a baby? That is trust. Or did you cry and not want to be held? That would be mistrust.

According to our book Child, by Gabriela Martorell " In these early months, babies need to develop a balance between trust, which lets them form intimate relationships, and mistrust, which enables them to protect themselves (2023)."

I experienced trust as a infant. My parents always looked after me and I was always the highest priority. This helped me to build trust.

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Autonomy versus shame and doubt is a stage from 18 months to three. This is a stage where you can develop autonomy which means you feel like you can accomplish things for yourself, and the positive response of your parent helps build this. Or you can develop shame or guilt because maybe you did not receive praise in regard to something you did.

According to our book Child, by Gabriela Martorell, "The strength that emerges during this stage is will (2023)."

I remember learning to use the toilet as a kid. I wanted to feel independent and I had the will to learn. My parents used positive reinforcement and I was able to be potty trained fairly quickly.

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Initiative versus guilt happens around pre school age 3-5 years old. In this stage a child is wanting to be independent and wants to do thing on their own. While they are learning new things some parents will praise them and others will discourage and this can make them feel guilty.

According to our book Child, by Gabriela Martorell, "Preschool children can do—and want to do—more and more. At the same time, they are learning that some of the things they want to do meet social approval, whereas others do not (2023)."

I remember I once took a toy from school because I thought I could. I did not know it was wrong. When I got home I felt bad and told my parents. They explained that this was feeling of guilt from making a bad choice. They said that as I get older I will be face with choices like this and I have to do the right thing.

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Industry versus inferiority goes from abut 6-11 years. This is when a child starts developing their identity and worth. They may be doing well in sports or in school and want praise from parents and peers. This positive praise gives them a sense of being competent in what they are doing. If they don't get praise or maybe negative praise this may make them feel inferior and that they are not good enough.

According to our book Child, by Gabriela Martorell, "If children are unable to obtain the praise of others or lack motivation and self-esteem, they may develop a feeling of low self-worth and thus develop a sense of inferiority (2023)."

I always did well in school. I was on honor roll and took advance classes. I always received praise from my teachers and parents, so this gave me feeling of competence in my schoolwork and academics.

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This stage is from 12-18 years old. This is when you are discovering your identity and what it means to you. If you feel confident in yourself, know your role in the world and have self worth you have identity. On the other hand, if you are unsure of your role, or what you are supposed to be doing in life and struggle's with sexual identity this is identity confusion.

According to our book Child, by Gabriela Martorell, "Identity forms as young people resolve three major issues: the choice of an occupation, the adoption of values to live by, and the development of a satisfying sexual identity (2023)."

I went through my own struggle with identity. I was very unsure if I wanted to go to college and have a career or if I was meant for a different life style. I also struggled with my sexuality. This was weird time for me, but with the support of my family and friends I worked through it.

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This stage is roughly from 19-40 years old. During this stage you are building many different types of relationships

These relationships will either make you feel fulfilled or isolated. You may have friends but struggle to actually spend time with them or communicate. This would lead to feeling isolated. Or do you have a solid relationship with a partner and feel intimate and loved? That would be forming positive intimate relationships.

According to out book Child, by Gabriela Martrell, "While teens practice interacting with the opposite sex within the context of friendships, opposite-sex friends are unlikely to become romantic partners (2023)."

I met my first Longterm boyfriend in school. We started simply as friends and built on our relationship. I was with him for 11 years. He taught me a lot of things about building and maintaining intimate relationships. I am thankful for those years. I also developed many other healthy relationships because I had a good foundation of what an intimate friendships and relationships should be.

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This stage is from 40-65 years old. Generativity is the feeling that you have been able to pass along knowledge and good things to those around you. You feel like you made difference in the things you did. Stagnation would mean you feel like you did accomplish everything you wanted to in your life. This could make you feel depressed or isolated from the world.

I hope when this stage comes for me I can pass on my knowledge whether as a teacher or parent. I want to feel confident I am bettering upcoming generations with my knowledge and life experiences.

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This stage begins at age 65 until the end of life. If you lived the life you wanted and feel happy in your choices, you will find peace in this stage. You won't mind getting older and doing less because you are content. If you don’t feel a sense of accomplishment this could cause depression, sadness, despair and lack of motivation for life.

I know many older folks struggle with this stage of life. I hope that when this stage comes for me, I can look back and be happy with what I accomplished.