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Prenatal development birth: I was a full term baby born 6lbs 3oz, 19 inches long at 5:25pm at Providence Hospital here in Seattle, Wa. My mother had "all day sickness" her entire pregnancy and had to be hospitalized in her 6th month for dehydration. I
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First two years: Age newborn to 2 years
I took my first steps on my 1st birthday and began saying short sentences at a year and a half. By age 2 years I began singing, much to the regret of my pre-school teachers. I began potty training and was completely trained by 2 1/4 years. -
Biosocial: I was always a small baby a good sleeper byt a better eater. My mother weaned me from breast feeding at the end of my sixth month. I went on to drinking formula, eating oatmeal, applesauce and other foods my mother blended up for me. There
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Cognitive: I said my first words Ma Ma.
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Psychosocial: I was good at my babysitters and did not experience a lot of separation anxiety. When my mother and father separated, I did not have problems with missing my Dad.
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Psychosocial
I began having temper tantrums when I entered the "terrible twos". My mother had a hard time breaking me of this habit but I finally stopped one evening when I threw a tantrum in the grocery store for some candy and kept it up on the walk home. As we got inthe block my house was on I sat on the ground and refused to move. My mother kept going and it scared me so bad that I didn't throw another tantrum. -
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The Play Years
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Biosocial
I had good nutritional habits and ate all types of food and never had a problem with eating vegetables or fruits. I loved to eat. I definitely ahowed right hand dominance by using crayons and pencils with my right hand in pre-school. I loved to go places with my mother and older sister. I had a great sense of direction and could find my way home from school even when my sister would try to lose me! I sang a solo in my Church choir at 4 years of age and was the youngest member. -
Cognitive
I was not shy at this stage and talked to people without having to be encouraged. I also understand that I would give money to beggars and homeless people whenever we passed someone asking for change. -
Biosocial
I was still short for my age and always the first one when we lined up according to height. I was very active and ran cross country for the CYO. I loved playing at recess but enjoyed playing alone because I could let my imagination go wild. -
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The School Years
Ages 6 to 11 -
Cognitive
I was not a great student and sometimes struggled. I was a good singer and loved singing in the childrens choir at school. During this time, because I was in the choir I was able to make an in-store commercial for Nordstroms and appeared on a local TV station on a Christmas program. I began learning Spanish in 1st Grade, though I don't remember very much of it. -
Psychosocial
I come from a strong nuclear family and at this age I began being bullied at school by the popular girls in my class and did not have a base of friends other than the kids I sang with in the school choir. I became introverted and shy at school. At 8 my mother had a blood clot and my sister and I feared we would lose her. She ended up having her leg amputated and we had to sell our family home. At 11 I fianlly got a best friend, we hung out together and call each other sisters to this day. -
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Adolescence
Adolescence was a pretty good time for me. I came into my own and grew out of the shyness I had been experiencing earlier and stood up for myself. Itraveled out of the country without my mother and began to learn to make decisions for myself. -
Biosocial
I was still short in comparison to my classmates but I was healthy and always ate a balanced diet. I played basketball for my school. I was never a smoker or a drinker. -
Cognitive
I made a trip to London, England with a community choir I belonged to. I was chaperoned by a friend of the family but I was responsible for my travelers checks, a total of $500.00, my passport and making sure to keep myself out of trouble, which an older friend wasn't able to do. -
Psychosocial
I decided I did not like the lack of diversity at the high school I had chosen, Bishop Blanchet, and went to Chief Sealth. I soon found that I could not learn in the chaotic public school setting and tried home schooling until I went into the GED program at South Seattle Community College. -
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Emerging Adulthood: Ages 18 to 25
As a young adult I made the decision to make my dreams of owning my own daycare come int a better position of happening by entering Seattle Central Community College to get an AAS degree in Social and Human Services with a concentration in chilhood and family studies. I also got pregnant and had a son. -
Cognitive
I began the AAS program at Seattle Central Community College after working for a couple different day care/pre-school programs and before and after school programs. I wanted to work for myself and do a service than what I had been involved with. My mother, a college graduate, always encouraged me to get a higher education. My grandmother was also a college grad and my older sister was almost finished with her BA. I decided to make the effort. -
Biosocial
When I found out I was pregnant, I went into a kind of frenzy making sure I was doing everything that was right and healthy for my baby. -
Psychosocial
I never realized that being a young mother for the first time would be so stressful. I had babysat and cared for babies since my first niece and nephew was born when I was 10. However, being totally responsible for a little life is frightening and stressful. I thank God for the help and support my mother and sister gave me. -
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Adulthood: Ages 25-65
This part of my life, I am in total control of my life and that of my son. I know my there will come a time that my mother will need my sister and I more and I will need to step up to the plate for her.Although my father and I are not always on good terms, I know that the time will come that he will need me also, especially since he is not in the best of health now. -
Biosocial
I worry about my blood pressure and the possibility of having a stroke or developing diabetes since my father had it. -
Biosocial
I worry when I get past my thirties my body will just fall apart. I already have high blood pressure from stress. I also have plantar fascitis and arthritis in by knees. Right now at 27 I am tired but I know its because I am working hard to keep up with school and an active 4 year old boy. -
Cognitive
I am very proud of myself that I made the commitment and went into the BAS program so I can be a social worker. I kept up the family name by getting a college degree! -
Psychosocial
My adulthood has been both stressful and highly satisfying. A career as a social worker at Childrens Hospital made my hard work getting the degree well worth it. Raising my son alone was difficlult but rewarding since we are extremely close. At 35 I met the man of my dreams and married. By my getting a college degree, my son understood the importance of getting a higher education and I was blessed to see him receive his doctorate degree. -
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Late Adulthood: Age 65 to Estimated death age 85
I hope to be enjoying my life in retirement when I reach 67, in beautiful Hawaii with my husband. I hope to travel to visit my son and his family, and then my sister and her family along with my nieces and nephew and all their families.I look forward to a leisurely, peaceful life with my husband until age brings on illness. -
Cognitive
I whill have to care for my husband who is diagnosed with Alzheimers and I worry that maybe I am getting forgetful and we will have to live with my son and his family or go to a nursing home. -
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Death and Dying
Estimated time of passing due to heart attack especially since it runs in my family or a stroke because I already have high blood pressure. I hope to be buried alongside my husband. I think it will be a death that happens suddenly like most members of my family.