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 Upon graduating college, Abella went on to medical school in the hopes of becoming a general surgeon but after her fourth year and finally marrying her long term boyfriend and also finally getting her license to practice, she never went on to a residency or a fellowship. Because of her natural talent and creativity particularly in creative direction she was offered the position of public relations director for the luxury brand Tom Ford. This new career opportunity prompted her and her husband Kenneth to relocate to Manhattan to be closer to the Tom Ford offices in Madison Avenue. During her first year in New York City she had her twin children, Morgan Hawthorne and Etrigan Redgrave. Her husband was often away on business having rooted his tech company and expanding in Asia. Eventually his company expanded enough and made its way into the US market, this prompted her husband to set up a base of operations in Manhattan to be closer to his wife and children. From that point on Abella’s life was one that was of stable bliss, her children went on to become accomplished in their own right, Morgan became a novelist having written acclaimed gothic novels that were eventually made into Oscar-nominated films. Her son Etrigan, became the CEO of the family tech company and has turned it into the most recognizable household brand having expanded from search engine and software to communication devices, auto vehicles, pharmaceuticals, robotics, aero spacecraft engineering and biotech. Currently, at the age of 80, Abella and her husband are enjoying a life of leisurely retirement in a picturesque suburban district surrounded by fall leaves in the city of Salem, Massachusetts.

Having had completed this course I found it to be quite instructive and illuminating, having learned about the stages in cognitive, physical and social developments one often goes through throughout their life it has been most helpful in seeing how and why people are the way they are and what made them so.

It is to my understanding that this first stage of lifespan development is a time in which the focus of care is not only directed to the unborn child but also to its mother as well. They are both equally important if not more as some would argue in the latter’s case. It is also important for the mother to avoid harmful substances that may impede or harm the child’s development such as teratogens. I dare say that it is very much tasked upon the bearer of the child to be most certain that having a child is their heart’s deepest desire if not it would be very unfortunate for both parties as it might result in a negative outcome of the most epic proportions. Conceiving an infant isn’t just about having the ability to do so but also the desire and willingness to do it to the best of one’s ability.

Having learned about this stage I can aptly assert that infancy is one of the most pivotal and crucial stages in lifespan development, children during this stage are ought to be given the utmost care and are to be handled with regard for their future progression. Temperament can also be observed in this stage which can be an indicator of what the infant might be like as they age. Ive also gathered that establishing a secure attachment and being readily available for a child when they require your presence is imperative and non-negotiable as developing any of the non-secure attachments might have negative consequences later on in life. It is incumbent upon the parentage of individuals in this stage to hold the care for their child with the highest regard as to not inflict irreparable and irreversible damage.

I may not be inclined to have a full picture of concrete memories during this stage but I am however able to recall a sliver or two of memory fragments. Vague recollections of early childhood splendor that is full of whimsy and wonderment. The sensation of what it was like to be in this stage seems like such a luxury compared to the existential dread of the current stage to which I reside. I am very much grateful though, that looking back on this stage with what little memory of it I have all I can recall is jubilant and joyous memories, I believe that it is important and highly beneficial to have children in this stage experience only positive experiences that are of the highest regard as to not impede or deter proper development as a well adjusted human being.

Looking back having had a more vivid picture of this stage, in retrospect I could see that the effects of the permissive parenting style my parents employed on me during my early childhood years have taken its toll on my motivation as it slowly incorporated itself onto my personality, I started to be less than inclined to excel in school as one ought to be. I seemed to have started losing direction in the one or two years after entering middle childhood. If there is any advice I would give to any parent with a child going through this face it is that you have to encourage them to achieve and pursue different hobbies, talents, skills and interests. As I too did want to do all those things but had no one to push me to do so, a lack of encouragement could easily dim any light no matter how bright it may shine. I truly felt that my precociousness and intelligence were tremendously wasted by a lack of direction and encouragement from such permissive parenting.

Most people blithely regard adolescence as an extremely volatile time emotionally in one’s life. Having gone through it myself I can indubitably concur to the truthfulness of this regard. A tremendous amount of self consciousness in regards to one’s own physical appearance is one of the things I underwent during this trying stage. Although I do not feel it’s appropriate to label what I experienced as an “eating disorder” I can vividly recall that this stage was when I started having my tumultuous relationship with food and somewhat a contorted view on my physical appearance which I still experience to this day.

In this stage I feel it is very beneficial to put an emphasis on the importance of intimacy and having someone to share these intimacies with. Perhaps it is my own proclivities and inclinations  that have persuaded me to come up with these outwardly imposing sentiments but there is something to be said in regard to the sense of security one experiences if one has a significant other during this stage of life. As this stage is where it is imperative to familiarize one’s self with a career path not necessarily needing an end but just to have a clear path or plan is something that a majority of early adults go through and sometimes have difficulty with that is why I urge the young adult to be privy of the luxuries one is privileged to when one has a significant other or committed partner during this trying period.

Learning about middle adulthood has been most illuminating mostly in part to how it has taught me to be more wary of my parents’ predicament as they are currently are going through this stage in their lives, it is also apparent how the health habits one has opted or not opted for has begun to start taking its toll on the middle aged adults physical body, in this stage there should be an emphasis on the preparedness one has had in preparing for old age and how the positive effects manifest in middle age. I also feel it’s also imperative for middle aged adults of the female persuasion to be well aware of the coming despair in experiencing one of the most difficult transitions in their existence that takes its form in menopause.

This stage is one that is quite fascinating and somewhat admirable; as it is a sort of paradise of comfortable complacency for people nearing their end. With just even barely stepping into this stage one must fully come to terms with the inevitably of death and one’s own mortality. It is also vital to stress the importance of the solace these late adults take in their partners or significant others as to soften the blow of what disillusionment they may have the unfortunate chance of encountering. Having such a companion in these times is vital in prolonging the death that lurks just around the corner though not really able to prevent it; it is more regarded as a cushion to the blow.