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In stage 1 of Erikson's Stages of Development, I think it sets the tone for the child's life. It is a very important stage that happens from birth to 18 months and carries over for the rest of their lives. Making sure your child develops trust, it will help the child feel safe and secure in the world. If the child doesn't develop this trust early on, it can negatively affect the child and lead to fear.

I resolved the crisis in this stage with trust.

I was known as a baby who cried a lot. The only way I wouldn't cry is if my mom held me. So to develop trust, she would pick me up when I cried.

"When the balance of care is sympathetic and loving, the psychological conflict of the first year is resolved on the positive side" (page 172).

This quote is good at diving deeper into why I began to trust my mom whenever I cried and she picked me up.

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The second stage of Erikson's Stages of Development take place when a child is 2- 3 years old. This stage focuses a lot on self-control and independence. By letting children make their own choices, it can help develop a sense of autonomy within the child. If children who struggle during this stage, they can develop shame and doubt in their abilities.

I resolved the crisis in this stage with Autonomy.

I refused to get rid of my pacifiers when I was younger. My parents tried everything to get me to get rid of them. They finally told me that if I threw them away, they would get me a cat. So I made the decision for myself to throw them away and in return, they did get me a cat.

"The conflict of autonomy versus shame and doubt is resolved favorably when parents provide young children with suitable guidance and reasonable choices" (page 173).

This quote helps with the reasoning on why I decided to throw away my pacifiers. They gave me a choice and I liked the choice, so I decided to be done with my pacifiers.

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Stage 3 is a psychosocial development stage. It takes place when the child is between 3 and 5. Children are starting to experience social interactions and when they are successful during this stage, they tend to feel like they can lead others and develop a sense of purpose. When children struggle in this stage, they can be left with a sense of guilt, lack initiative, and self-doubt.

I resolved the crisis in this stage with initiative.

I started to make new friends and keep the same friends that I have had during the age group here. I went to preschool every day. When I first started, I was super shy and I just cried in the corner. I started to open up and began to play in social activities and meet new kids. I started to lead the kids in pretend play sometimes.

"As the word initiative suggests, young children have a new sense of purposefulness. They are eager to tackle new tasks, join in activities with peers, and discover what they can do with the help of adults. They also make strides in conscience development" (page 246).

This quote helps me realize how eager I was to make new friends once I started to come out of my shell and be social.

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At around 5 - 11 years old, children enter the 4th stage of Erikson's Stages of Development. In this stage, children are constantly learning through social interactions, and it helps the child develop a sense of pride in their abilities and accomplishments.  It is very important for parents to continue to encourage and tell their child they are proud of them during this stage. Children who do not get any encouragement from anyone will lead to self-doubt in a child's abilities.

I resolved the crisis in this stage with Industry.

During this stage, I tried out a lot of different sports. I tried soccer, cheerleading, volleyball, and softball. I got to learn how to play each sport and interact with different people and coaches while I played. My parents always encouraged me with whatever sport I was into at the time.

"Erikson believed that the combination of adult expectations and children’s drive toward mastery sets the stage for the psychological conflict of middle childhood, industry versus inferiority, which is resolved positively when experiences lead children to develop a sense of competence at useful skills and tasks" (page 321).

This quote describes how well my parents encouraged me to follow whatever sport I wanted to master it as much as I wanted to.

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Stage 5 is all about identity and confusion. It happens around 12 to 18 years of age. I think this stage is another important one because children are developing a sense of personal identity which will continue to influence behavior for the rest of the person's life. Failure in this stage can result in role confusion and a weak sense of self. It is important to give children the best encouragement while they are trying to figure out their identity.

I resolved the crisis in this stage with both identity and confusion.

I think this stage is a very important one and I also think it's constantly changing.  A lot happened to me during this stage. My parents got divorced, my boyfriend of 3 years broke up with me, I moved schools, and started college. I was learning who I was during each crisis, but I was also confused during them as well. I think in the end though, identity came out on top.

"Erikson was the first to recognize identity as the major personality attainment of adolescence and as a crucial step toward becoming a productive, content adult. Constructing an identity involves defining who you are, what you value, and the directions you choose to pursue in life (page 398).

This quote helps me better understand what constructing an identity involves. I was doing all this and more during this stage of my life.

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This 6th stage takes place between 19-40 years of age. It is important for young adults to create intimate, loving relationships with others. It's important in creating strong relationships and if someone struggles with this stage, it can lead to loneliness and isolation.

I resolved and will continue to resolve the crisis in this stage with intimacy.

I am currently in this stage of my life. I am super lucky and fortunate that I married my high school sweetheart and we've been together ever since. (Same one who broke up with me during stage 5) We have two kids right now and one on the way. I know with this stage, there is going to be some hardships that I will have to overcome, but I'm relieved to have my husband by my side along the way.

"The achievement of intimacy between dating partners typically lags behind that between friends" (page 417).

This quote especially relates to me because my husband and I were friends before we started dating. Fast forward 13 years, and we are best friends.

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Stage 7 of Erikson's Stages of Development takes places from age 40-65 years. This stage is important because it leads to feelings of usefulness and accomplishment in one's life. If someone is struggling in this stage, it can result in shallow involvement in the world. Adults need to create or nurture things in life that will outlive them to help them create this accomplishment.

I hope to resolve the crisis in this stage with generativity.

I hope that whatever is thrown my way during this stage, that I handle it with grace and positivity. I hope that I can be the best person for my children and raise them the correct way.

" But to realize their potential, they must have family, school, and community environments that nurture personal strengths while limiting exposure to adversity" (page 424).

This quote is exactly what I want to embody as an adult. I want my children to have family, school, and a healthy environment to help them thrive throughout their lives.

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This is the final stage in Erikson's Stages of Development. This stage is more of a reflecting stage. In this stage, older adults reflect on their life and the events of their lives. This stage they think about things they did that brought them happiness and things that they regret or things they didn't get the chance to do. If someone in this stage doesn't feel successful in their life, they could be left with bitterness and despair. If someone in this stage feels like their life was purposeful, will feel satisfied and ready to face the end of their lives in a peaceful way.

I hope I resolve any crisis in this stage with Integrity.

I hope that by the time I make it to this stage, that I have lived a very happy, positive life. I don't want to have any regrets and wish that I have done something. I want to be content with everything that I have accomplished in life.

"As we invest in the next generation, we invest in ourselves and the future of humankind. To our youths will be entrusted the task of taking care of us and our world" (page 424).

This quote is a good reminder of what I hope to be during this stage. I want to show the youths how to invest in themselves and the future of our world and humankind.