Cliché as it is, we all have heard how fast time seems to go as we get older. I can personally attest for a bit over half-a-century. So much of who we become comes from how our parents treat us. It is not enough to give “things” along the way. We each need discipline, friends, faith, and encouragement. Here is some of what I’ve seen along the way.
Infancy: Everything is being done for you and at this time your awareness is just starting to come into itself. You are primarily interested in your own bodily functions ... eating is primary. Hopefully your parents realize that now is the time to start an education fund for each child ... at birth.
Toddler: Socialization has become more important to you. At this point you like to play with others your own size for relatively short periods of time. Sharing does not come naturally. You can learn very quickly at this stage. You start attending birthday parties with your parent(s).
Grade School: You depend on your parents for everything. If you want to see a friend you need to check with your parents. Birthday parties are frequent. It seems like it will be forever before Santa Claus comes again. We hope that your parents are investing monthly into a separate education account for you because, before they know it, you’ll be heading to college. You are now learning that you need discipline to learn good study habits.
Middle School: You and your friends often meet where you share interests whether it be music lessons or athletic practices and events. You may be involved in scouting which will introduce you to new skill sets. Birthday parties have changed a bit and many involve sleepovers now. Did you ever short sheet a bed or freeze someone’s panties? Practical jokes can be cruel.
High School: Your friends are the center of your world and your parents are overbearing or out of touch. Right? You are invincible and these years will never end. You have freedoms you have not experienced before like driving a car! This gives you a sense of independence. You are continually pushing the barriers with your parents wanting to do more and more. You are more aware of your body and at times that makes you uncomfortable.
College: You feel grown up and on your own. Especially when you go to a school that is away from your home or you live in an apartment with others, you will have that growing sense of independence. The choices you make now will stay with you the rest of your life.
Twenties: What a marvelous time this is if you have prepared yourself throughout your schooling. You need to be focused on what you do. Find a mentor who is successful and figure out what they did to get to where they are now. Work very hard at becoming your best you. Don’t forget to put time in daily to a bit of exercise. You’ll be glad you did years from now.
Thirties: Where is time going? You are already at midlife. Just kidding. Many women have children in their twenties or thirties. You still feel like a teenager but your responsibilities have grown. At some point you stop being carded ... what a disappointment. You may start feeling like a bus driver driving kids all over the place. Do stop to enjoy life, as hard as it may be.
Forties: You may be at what used to be the mini-van stage or at this age, your own children (if you had any) may be getting older and you may begin to envision what life could be like without them in the home. Career-wise you should still be at full tilt. Don’t give it up now. Though it may be tempting you need to hang in there and accumulate more wealth for your retirement ... and weddings. It is often in your late forties and fifties when you will be called upon to assist a parent. This is a terribly difficult stage.
