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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.