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The first stage of Erikson's stages of development is Trust vs Mistrust. This stage is deemed the most important out of the eight. Children at this stage learn to trust or mistrust their caregivers and will result in how they trust future relationships as they grow and develop. When I was an infant, I developed a sense of trust due to my mom being a stay at home mom and my needs being met. I also had an older sister who gave me attention and who I was around 24/7.

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My brother and I wearing out parents shoes. 

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The second stage of Erikson’s stages of development is Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt. This stage represents a child's sense of self-control and independence. It is where a child begins to recognize confidence in oneself. A few events that happen during this stage include potty training, letting a child pick out their outfit, and even snack choices. From what I was told I potty trained very quickly, but still lacked the control when it came to night time bathroom habits which took much longer for me to grasp as a child than most. My parents also let me express myself through picking out my outfits and having a dress up bin with princess dresses and shoes that I wore quite often.

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This stage occurs during a child's preschool years. This is the time where kids begin to immerse themselves into new tasks and different activities with friends. They learn they have a voice and are able to exert power over themselves and the world. A couple things that happen during this stage include taking on new activities and trying things on their own. When I was at this stage I began trying new activities such as sports. My sister and I joined a club soccer team together. From what I gathered I was not much of a soccer player and spent most of my time on the field picking flowers rather than kicking the ball.

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In immersing oneself in new activities and learning new skills in the previous stage of life, this leads to one developing a self-worth. If not supported in an interest is where inferiority plays a role and a sense of worthlessness takes place. Industry is coined for how one functions and refers to the mastering of one's skills. Whether a child feels supported or not in their interests and in responsibilities such as school work makes a big difference in how the child feels about themself. One of the more significant moments of my life during this stage is my dad helping me build a volcano for a science fair project I wanted to do well at. Instead of saying he did not have time, he took the time to show me the steps and make me feel heard and proud.

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In this stage, according to Erikson, is when a child explores and develops a sense of self. Experimenting with different roles, activities, and behaviors is a common theme among children at this age. Finding your identity can be great until the role confusion presents itself. This is when one is unsure of where they fit in and feeling confused about where they belong in life. This stage was very recent to me and was a very confusing time in my life. Navigating high school and where I belonged during and after school was a complicated experience. The biggest example of this stage in my life would have to be deciding to take an alternative route after high school then most of my friends and classmates did. Instead of leaving and going to a four year university like I had originally planned, I decided at the last minute that the life I wanted to build was not going to be stable with the plan I had in place.

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My best friend of ten years and I at a concert. 

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During this sixth stage of Erikson's stages of development, this stage focuses on forming meaningful relationships. But, forming meaningful and intimate relationships comes with risks that could lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation. Past relationships, fear of commitment, and negative childhood experiences are among the few reasons why forming relationships would be hard in this stage of life. Making the choice to be vulnerable is always risky, but when successful you’ll end up feeling cared for and loved, as well as having the ability to share life experiences with others. Right now I am in the early days of this stage and have already experienced a mixture of the good and the bad that comes during this time in one's life. I spend a lot of time self reflecting and looking at my time in isolation as not always a bad thing. With that being said I have also made great strides in forming relationships with others around me that have been very endearing and impactful in the best ways.

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This is a picture of my siblings and I. We are what my parents have been and will continue nurturing and impacting. My parents are currently in this stage. 

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This is the seventh stage of Erikson’s stages of development and represents a time in one's life where they create and nurture things that will outlast them. Providing for future generations and making positive changes for the lives to follow are a huge part of this stage. A few examples include marriage/relationships, work, and mentoring others. Although I have not hit this stage in my life yet, not that I am in any rush, I wish to be at a place in my life where I am able to give back greatly when I get to this point. I hope by then I have kids of my own and even grand kids that I can influence in a positive way to continue making beneficial changes to our society and world as a whole.

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This stage is a reflection of one's life and the determination of whether one is having regrets or is satisfied with how their life has gone and what they have accomplished throughout their lifetime.