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Period: to
Prenatal-Birth
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Biosocial
Mom very healthy throughout pregnancy--no complications. -
Cognitive
She did not read to me, sing to me, or do anything specific for my development in utero. -
Psychosocial
My mother states that her stress level was, "low." This surprised me since she was a single mother with an unexpected pregnancy. But, her parents were supportive and she worked throughout the pregnancy until her due date, which was three weeks exactly before my birthday. -
Period: to
First Two Years
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Biosocial
I was approximately 50th percentile for height and weight. My mom states I was, "average." I was walking for my first birthday. -
Cognitive
Language Development: I was very accelerated in regards to language development. I said my first word, "choo-choo" at seven months. I was speaking much quicker than my peers. -
Psychosocial
I did not have specific playdates. I don't believe the term existed at that time. My mom just went to friends' houses or they came to ours and the kids played. I went to daycare from six months on. I was around other children very frequently and interacted well with others. -
Period: to
Play Years
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Psychosocial
My mom starting spanking me when I misbehaved. She used either a large wooden or plastic slotted spoon, whichever she grabbed first. It hurt and I cried every time. She did not do it often, I suppose it was for "serious offenses." -
Biosocial
I was injuered while playing with a neighbor friend. I was hit in the forehead with a wooden baseball bat. My mom and grandma took me to the doctor. I remember it happened at the end of the day; I did not need stitches. It's funny thinking back on it now. If that happened today, the child would be put through a complete battery of tests, X-rays, CT scans, etc. I was sent home, probably to rest for the remainder of the day. -
Cognitive
While doing a art project in kindergarten, I made a very interesting picture. We were told to do a self-portrait. I drew myself naked, thinking it was completely normal and, I suppose, what the teacher was looking for. Turns out, it was completely hillarious! -
Period: to
School Years
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Biosocial
I was quite intelligent. The school talked to my mom about me skipping a grade the next school year; she declined. I am happy she did, there's no hurry to graduate. -
Cognitive
I was heavily involved in spelling bees and reading competitions at school. I was so eager to read the most books, I found a way to "cheat the system" by taking the computed book knowledge tests without reading the books under false names (like Ryan D.) until I could pass it, at which point I used my real username. I didn't realized the teacher would see all these other versions of my name. A meeting was called, I lost any shot at winning (I would have taken at least third without cheating). -
Period: to
Adolescence
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Psychosocial
Bullying: I was neither the victim or the perpetrator of bullying. I had a good group of friends, and was pretty normal in terms of height, weight, looks, athletic ability, etc. Sure, a bully could have found something to bully me about, but there were many easier targets. -
Biosocial
I was even embarassed by hearing the word 'puberty.' I tried to cover it up by secretly shaving my teenage moustache. When playing eighth grade basketball, I purposely would not raise my arms above my head if my mom or grandma were in attendance at the game, for fear of them seeing hair under my armpits. -
Cognitive
I suffered from invincibility fate. I drove way too fast. One time, my mom and I were driving in opposite directions on a two-lane, 55 mile per hour highway--I was going about 80 m.p.h. She turned around, caught me at my destination (work) and took my keys. I couldn't understand why she was so upset. -
Period: to
Emerging Adulthood
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Psychosocial
My first love and heartbreak. I had my first girlfriend during senior year and a subsequent breakup near the end of the year, after Prom. I felt terrible since she dumped my for another saxophone player (we all played sax in the band) who was two years my younger; I was devastated. -
Biosocial
Lost virginity. A strong religious upbringing could no longer hold back a young man's desire for sex. Free condoms handed out at a rock concert did not help curb the desire. -
Cognitive
Graduated college with Magna Cum Laude honors. I immediately started a job with a top pharmaceutical company. I thought I knew it all. Turns out, I still knew nothing (and probably still do). -
Psychosocial
Identity Crisis. I am now a Spanish teacher. I never wanted to be a teacher and don't want to do this forever. I wanted to be a doctor, pilot, chef, optometrist, landscape designer, anything, but not a teacher. I decide I want to be a nurse and begin working toward this goal. -
Period: to
Adulthood
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Biosocial
First wrinkles noticed. Two horizontal lines across the middle of the forehead are noticeable, even when relaxed. -
April 20, 2065 Psychosocial
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Cognitive
I have become a selective expert in order to make myself feel good and valuable. My areas of expertise are: early 21st century politics and knowledge of foreign languages and cuisines. -
Psychosocial
Empty Nester. The twins have graduated college and gone off to work. We can finally go back to doing the thing we loved sans children: travelling, especially abroad, -
Period: to
Late Adulthood
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Psychosocial
Retirement and Volunteer work. I officially retire from nursing and teaching at the Univeristy of Michigan. I begin volunteering for the American Red Cross. -
Biosocial
I become a victim of elderspeak. I still have my mind, but I look my age and therefore, people speak slowly and loudly. I find this extremely annoying. -
Cognitive
Terminal decline. I am really feeling like my mind is going. I probably won't last much more than a year. -
Psychosocial
All of my friens and have preceded me in death. I have nobody left to live for but my wife, and she is in poor health, too. -
Period: to
Death & Dying
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Biosocial
I have lost basically all my hearing and most of my vision to cataracts. I feel like nothing more than living and, barely, breathing matter. Why do I just not die??? -
Cognitive
My brain finally gives out and stops telling my heart to pump blood and my lungs to breathe. I take my last breath and die peacefully at home.