A classic text on human development is Erik Erikson’s Stages of Psychological Development . Erikson’s theory focuses on the resolution of conflicts at each of the eight stages in order to move successfully on to the next stage. A much simpler treatment is found in Thomas Armstrong’s The Human Odyssey: Navigating the twelve Stages of Life. Armstrong lays out each stage with the age range and characteristics: Stage One is Prebirth characterized by Potential, Stage 2 Birth: Hope, and 3. Infancy (0-3); Vitality, 4. Early childhood (3-6); Playfulness, 5. Middle Childhood (6-8); Imagination, 6. Late Childhood (9-11): Ingenuity, 7 Adolescence (12-20: Passion, 8 Early Adulthood (20-35); Enterprise, 9. Middle Life (35-50):, Contemplation, 10 Mature Adulthood (50-80); Benevolence, 11. Late Adulthood (80+): Wisdom, 12 Death and Dying. Erikson’s analysis is more profound, but Armstrong’s stages are more easily available for most people. What I find interesting is how the various models help us think about what is happening in the stages of our own development and in the development of our children and grandchildren. Since I am now in Armstrong’s Mature Adulthood, I am conscious that my life tasks are now different than they were at earlier stages. I am fast approaching Late Adulthood where the tasks again change. As Armstrong indicates each stage has gifts to bring to life. However, it is important to realize that the concerns for people at other stages than the one I am at. Many see things from a very different viewpoint than mine. If we are truly going to bear each others’ burdens we will need to recognize the stages of life for those around us. Loving people always means seeing them where they are and responding appropriately to their situation. All the stages are good gifts and we need them all to be a whole people..