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This stage includes children from birth to about a year or a year and half old. This stage is when the child is learning to trust their parent. Based on providing basic needs such as food, clothing, bathing, and lots of love and cuddles, your child will learn to trust you or not. In order to gain full trust, it is best to have a daily routine so they know what to expect. It is also good to have a balance between instruction and play, so they know to respect you but they can also have fun with you! During this time, my parents were separated but still living together. I don’t remember anything from this stage but I know my parents did not get along well and fought behind closed doors often. Their moods would also affect how they ‘parented’ us, so we never knew what to expect. Because of this, we were always fearful and anxious of what tone our parents were going to use with us. Based on this, I left this stage with mostly mistrust.

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This stage includes children from a year and a half to three years old. This stage is when the child is learning to do things on their own. This is a crucial time for a parent to guide their child in activities such as getting dress, brushing teeth, and/or brushing hair, while also letting them take some control. Helping the child to learn to do these daily tasks on their own can help to build independence for the rest of their lives. Being controlling and not letting the child do any of it on their own can lead to them not taking initiative with things down the line such as school work or social time with friends. I was a very independent child and I had to do everything on my own. My parents would dress me in the morning, but I would take my clothes off and put them back on by myself because I did not want help. Looking back at pictures I have many crazy outfits because I didn’t want anyone to pick my outfits for me, I wanted to do everything on my own. Based on this, I left the stage with autonomy.

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This stage includes children from three to five years of age. This stage is dependent on the last stage, autonomy vs. shame/doubt. This stage can help finish encouraging those independent behaviors in group settings such as in the classroom or when they are playing with their friends. If they are good with independence and have no problem doing things on their own, then they will be well set up for their life and taking initiative in school and their job when they are adults. However, if they back off when they have decisions to make and are not so independent, they might have trouble making decisions for themselves and lack self-confidence and be filled with guilt, which can make the child suffer in social settings. Going along with my independence, I also liked to be ‘in charge’ when I played with my friends. I wanted everyone to follow my instructions and do what I wanted them to do. Based on this, I left this stage with initiative.

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This stage includes children from five to twelve years old. This stage is about competition and striving to be their best self. If they have good self-confidence from the last two stages, they will be fit for friendly competitions such as sports or being the top student in their class. If they are not so confident or independent, then they might struggle in sports or gym classes, and they might back down when playing competitive games with their friends. This is nothing bad, but it may mean that they thrive elsewhere such as art, or maybe playing a musical instrument. Whatever your child is best at, it is so important to be their biggest cheerleader, even if it is not what you had in mind for your child's life. Showing that you support your child and that you are proud of them can motivate them to be the best version of themselves and it can help them to build their confidence even further. Their first role models and cheerleaders are their parents, so setting good examples for them to follow is crucial for their development. I was not very good at ball sports but I was in dance and gymnastics for lots of years during this stage. I never really saw it as a competition against others, it was just more of a fun activity for me to participate in. With my schooling, however, I always strived to be the best in my class and I thrived off of praise and rewards from my teachers. This pushed me to be the best I could be not only in my class but also at home against my older brother. Based on this information, I left this stage with industry.

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This stage is from twelve to eighteen years old. This stage is where the adolescent is learning who they are and what they stand for and believe in. Kids in this stage are learning more about their bodies and about the world around them and they will have lots of questions about what is happening to them and around them. In order to leave this stage with identity, these kids need to have room to experiment with different types of personalities and hobbies, but they also need to feel comfortable with being able to ask questions about themselves and things they can and cannot do. When they have no room to experiment and grow, they will not develop a sense of identity, which can result in confusion about themselves. My parents are not the type of people to explain things even if they are uncomfortable. My brother and I never really got a sex talk or a talk about our changing bodies, and my mom only talked to me about my upcoming period for one day, when I first got it and had no idea what it was. My parents also force us to follow their beliefs and values and never really let us form our own, so when people ask me what my beliefs and values are, I tell them what my parents believe in because that’s all I knew for the better first half of my life. Based on this, I left this stage with what I thought was identity but it ended up being more towards confusion.

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This stage includes people from eighteen to forty years old. This stage is focusing on personal relationships and developing a personal foundation for the future. This stage looks at friendships and relationships and how those effect the person's life as a whole. People who have lots of friends and are in a good relationship will have a good foundation for thriving in the work force. Those that keep to themselves and don't try to make new connections might end up feeling lonely or depressed. I am currently in this stage. I started my first relationship 7 months ago. Before this I had never been in a romantic relationship. I also have had many friends and I find it fairly easy to make new connections. Although I hadn’t had much of a sense of self before, I am learning who I am now and I am becoming my own person. Because of this, I am able to show intimacy to my partner and have a healthy relationship with him. Based on this information, I left this stage with intimacy.

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This stage includes people from forty to sixty-five years of age. This is where a person has started their life in the workforce and they probably have a family of their own. This is where people can choose to either be active in their family and community and give back to society, or they can choose to focus solely on themselves and only worry about things that directly affect their daily life. I have not entered this stage yet, but based on my knowledge of this stage, I believe I will fit in generativity rather than stagnation. I have lots of motivation for the future and to be productive in order to move my life further down the line. Based on this, I think I will leave this stage with generativity.

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This last stage includes people sixty-five and older. This is basically the stage after retirement. People in this stage start looking back at their life and what they have created for their family. If they have a close family with loving children and grandchildren, or they are active in their community, or they have lots of friends, then they will probably leave this stage with integrity. If they look back and feel that they accomplished nothing or have very little friends or they are not close with their kids and grandkids, then they will probably leave this stage with despair. I have not entered this stage either, but I believe I will fit in integrity rather than despair. So far, my life has been so good to me and I have lots of plans for a happy life with a partner, kids, and a job I love. I think when I reach this stage, I will look back and be proud of all I have done in my life. Based on this, I think I will leave this stage with integrity.