# data[].attributes.body
In this stage of Erikson's theory of development, it is important that infants develop a sense of being cared for. If that is established, the child will develop their sense of trust (Berk 10). In my experience, my parents have told me that they cared for my needs and so did my siblings. They said that both they and my siblings would bring everything that I wanted to me, and they were always there for me when I began to cry. My parents said that I usually preferred my mother, and she would always rock me to sleep and made sure that I was was well-fed and changed before bed every night. Erikson would refer to this as a "balance of care" which resulted in me trusting in the world (Berk 10).

# data[].attributes.body
In this stage, the child develops their independence and self-confidence. This is can be supported through encouraging parents as well as the fact that "basic trust and autonomy grow out of warm, sensitive parenting and reasonable expectations for impulse control starting in the second year" (Berk 173) For me, I was very tall for my age. Everyone thought that I was at least twice my age. I was a three-year-old that was the size of a six-year-old. With that being said, people often criticized or shamed me for not being able to do the things that they thought that I should be able to do. Those people were sometimes even my parents because I was their third child, so they sometimes would forget how young I actually was. I was able to do the things that a three-year-old should like being potty-trained, but it was often overlooked because of my height. This led to a lack of self-confidence.

# data[].attributes.body
In this third stage, children develop "a new sense of purposefulness" (Berk 246). My parents were very encouraging to me at this age because I had a lot of ideas, and I had siblings. I wanted to live up to their successes. I would set a lot of goals for myself so that I could be just like them, and my parents were very encouraging of that because they just wanted me to be successful. I remember wanting homework even though I was just in preschool because my older siblings would be sitting at the kitchen table doing homework of their own. My mom would make me my own little "homework" assignments to do in a notebook so that I could feel like I was one of them. I think that this helped me to develop my feeling of initiative.

# data[].attributes.body
In this stage, it is a positive experience for children " to develop a sense of competence" (Berk 321). I was a go-getter in elementary school in middle school. My parents and all of my teachers always commented on how well I did my work. I always turned my work in early or on time. I would go above and beyond for each assignment, and my teachers loved to commend me. I was awarded multiple awards throughout middle school that helped encourage me to continue my hardwork. I loved being appreciated for it, so I continued to do school with so much determination that made me feel like I was capable for any and all levels of school.

# data[].attributes.body
If this stage is impacted negatively, then it can leave a sense of "unpreparedness" (Berk 398). My parents got divorced and remarried to other people all within a year. It was really hard to adjust to having two different home lives and having to live up to two separate sets of expectations. I was never able to make both sets of parents happy, which often made me feel worse about myself. I never felt prepared for either house, which is why I ended up feel a sense of confusion instead of a feeling of identity.

# data[].attributes.body
This stage involves the forming of valuable relationships. Strong relationships in this stage require those involved to have a strong sense of self. If one failed experienced "earlier disappointments", then the individual "cannot form close bonds and remain isolated" (Berk 10). I had a lot of important people leave my life during this time either due to deaths or by choice. There were a lot of important life events that happened during this time such my first heartbreak. The only people that I wanted to turn to were the ones that had decided to leave, and it felt like there was no one there to support me. I also have low self-esteem, which was developed in an earlier stage and made it hard to feel worthy during this time.

# data[].attributes.body
Generativity means "giving to the next generation" (Berk 10). This stage can produce a feeling of accomplishment or regret. During this stage, the person reflects on past experiences and/or accomplishments to see how much of a contribution they feel like they have made to the world. I had children and was able to graduate from college. I experienced hardships along the way, but this encouraged me to continue to pursue my career and made me a more confident person overall. I also had a husband that was very encouraging and supportive along the way.

# data[].attributes.body
This is the last of Piaget's stages of development, and it leaves the person with a fear of death or a sense of peace with their lives (Berk 10). I was able to support my children and watch them grow into adults, and the relationship that I was able to have with my husband by working through past trauma made me feel proud of the life that I had survived and accomplished. I felt at peace with the decisions that I had made, and it provided myself a feeling of integrity.