Karen Moncy's Story

  • My Biological Mother left my father.

    My biological mother left my father when I was very young and in doing so she also abandoned my little brother and I.
    In Erikson's first stage of development, Infancy Period, trust versus mistrust a secure environment provided by the caregiver with adequate food and shelter results in trust of the adults.
    With my mother leaving, I developed a lot of mistrust in my elders and people who I should be able to trust.
  • College and Motherhood

    At 18 years old, I gave birth to my oldest daughter and I also started college, all at age 18. Erikson's Stage 5 of Identity vs Identity confusion is weighing out of previous experience and societal expectations and find themselves, figuring out who you are as an individual. I wasn't able to discovery who I was between young motherhood and college, so I developed a lot of confusion.
  • Marriage!!

    I married my husband in a big beautiful castle in Washington with all of my friends and family and I felt like a princess.
    In Erikson's stage 6, intimacy vs isolation, individuals form a close friendships or long term partnerships.
    I married my best friend and chose intimacy over isolation and therefore I have a strong current bond with someone.