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Infancy: Language Strategies
My Mom told me that her and my Dad used to talk to me as much as they could when I was a baby and toddler. I also remember in 1st grade being advanced in reading, so the teacher would let me read to the rest of the class. I believe this advanced development is due to my parent's diligence in speaking to me as an infant -
Infancy: Temperament
I was told by my mother that I was an easy infant/toddler and I exhibited high extroversion, however, my father was a very emotion-dismissing parent as he was raised that way himself and that cause me problems in my adolescence due to the poor goodness of fit. -
Infancy: First Word
My Mom said my first word was "dog" or "doggy". I was surprised as this is not the typical "mama" or "dada", however, we did have a dog and I do love animals. -
Infancy: Sensorimotor Stage Activities
I still enjoyed a pacifier until I threw the last one out of my grandmother's car and she told me she would never buy another one. It was the last one ever. I remember this. Vividly. -
Early Childhood: Physical Development
I attended West Side Alliance Daycare from 2 years old until I was 8 when they closed down. We would play games that involved group activities such as pick your instrument and play it while marching in a parade formation, and also an activity that involved us all holding a parachute in a circle and throwing balls around with it. I remember the triangle and the drums being my favorite instruments to play. -
Early Childhood: Memory
I remember having two parakeets named Tweety and Weena when I was around 3 years old. Tweety was named after the Warner Bros. cartoon character and Weena was named after Pee Wee Herman's girlfriend. I remember my Dad would let them get on the ceiling fan and turn it on low so they could ride it. They seemed to enjoy it. -
Early Childhood: Sleep
I slept about 9-10 hours a day including naps in daycare. I remember a room full of blue cots. Everyone could choose a blanket and a pillow. -
Early Childhood: Preoperational Stage Activities
I was obsessed with the Disney movie "The Little Mermaid" and I remember having the soundtrack on cassette tape and being at daycare putting on a play to the soundtrack and trying to make people participate. Most of the time I did it alone. -
Middle Childhood: Physical Development
My cousin and I learned to roller skate when we were about 4 years old and continued to skate up until age 12. We did most of our skating in the gym at daycare when we were middle aged children and also at a roller skating rink called Roller Motion. -
Middle Childhood: Memory Strategies
I remember in 3rd grade our teacher Mrs. Haygood taught our class our multiplication tables using a vinyl record of songs to sing. I still remember those songs. 7, 14, 21, 28....... -
Middle Childhood: Non-normative Life Event
My parents divorced when I was 10 years old and my brother was 5. We remained in the house we moved into when I was 7 with my Mom and my Dad moved out. I remember my parents asking me who I wanted to live with and the mature answer I gave. I said "I'm going to continue to live in my house. Whoever lives with me is your decision." -
Middle Childhood: Concrete Operational Activities
I was into several activities throughout this stage. I did gymnastics; I did majorettes; I did karate; I even did softball. All of the activities were brief as I was trying to navigate my interests. -
Adolescence: Puberty
I hit puberty right before my 12th birthday. I developed size C breasts by my 13th birthday. I got in trouble with my school because the clothes that I was wearing became inappropriate almost overnight because of my developed body. I think this is the initial event that started the deep issues I've had over the years with my body image. -
Adolescence: IQ
When I was in 7th grade, I was tested to see my IQ. I was told I had an IQ of 137 and was put in a gifted class. My class only numbered about 12 other students. It was only my history class, and I attended regular classes throughout the day. I remember doing chalk murals off of a projector in that class as a way to learn about Japanese culture. My IQ now is 114. I know I process things in a very different way than others which sometimes leads to communication problems. -
Adolescence: Formal Operational Activities
When I entered into highschool as a freshman, I tried out for the Colorguard and made it. My goal was to be on the dance team as you had to have 1 year experience on Colorguard before you could try out for the dance team. I made it the following year. -
Adolescence: Sleep
I typically slept 5-7 hours in my adolescent years. -
Emerging Adulthood: Physical Development
I was on a dance team from adolescence (high-school age 16-18) to early adulthood (college age 18-22). I loved to dance. I was good at it. Maybe not professional level, but I was good. It aided in developing a certain set of fine and gross motor skills. -
Emerging Adulthood: Grief
I lost my grandmother Ella Cribbs to complications of smoking cigarettes. She was my primary caregiver from 6 weeks until I was about 2 years old. I was extremely close to her. We grew apart during my middle childhood/adolescent years and she moved to California. I was unable to say goodbye to her. It caused me to spiral into a very self destructive period of my life. I assume I developed prolonged grief disorder. It was a non-normative life event that impacted much of my 20s. -
Early Adulthood: Sleep
I typically slept around 6-8 hours in my 20s. I didn't ever feel like I didn't get enough sleep. -
Early Adulthood: Stress
I dealt with stress in healthy and unhealthy ways in my 20s. I was exercising and dancing for UAB, but I was also going to parties and developed a habit of binge drinking that lasted until my 30s. -
Early Adulthood: Decline in Senses
I noticed a decline in my vision around age 22. I was diagnosed with astigmatism and prescribed glasses that I do not wear because I believe the prescription is wrong. I also noticed around age 25 that I am very hard of hearing and I usually have to read lips or request people to repeat themselves frequently depending on the pitch of their voice. I assume it was all of the concerts I attended (FallOut Boy, Panic!AtTheDisco, etc.) when I was an emerging adult. Totally worth it. -
Middle Adulthood: Memory Strategies
I play a puzzle game application on my phone called Einstein Riddles when I need to de-stress and it also provides cognitive exercising -
Middle Adulthood: Identity
Currently I am in identity moratorium and continue to go through "MAMA" cycles as I am about to be 34 and I decided to go back to college and pursue a degree in Psychology to change my work field entirely. I no longer want to be in the service industry in a server/bartender capacity as I have outgrown the desire to put up with people's negativity and complaining on a daily basis. -
Middle Adulthood: Family Health History
I have a history of heart disease and Alzheimer's disease on my mother's side of the family and a history of type 2 diabetes on my father's side of the family. To date there has been no evidence of onset of any genetic-related health problems or diseases however I do realize that I am at risk. I have plans currently to exercise more and watch what I eat to prevent early onset and to promote general overall personal health. -
Middle Adulthood: Personality (Big 5)
o: 0.96, c: 0.67, e: 0.88, a: 0.69, n: 0.69 My personality has remained consistent throughout my life. I have become more organized, but I suppose that is more maturity than personality changing. I have accepted certain things about myself such as neuroticism as I recognize that society has a negative perception of high emotions but I do not have to view myself negatively. I can embrace what society prejudices. -
Middle Adulthood: Sleep
I typically sleep 8-9 hours a night currently. I even nap mid-day if I can. I love sleeping.
