Just Be There Blog

a list of life phases--my experiences

That part of my life is over--

my childhood with my mother started at birth ended at the age of eight

my childhood with my father started when I was eight--ended at the age of thirteen

my adolescence with my father ended at the age of seventeen

my pre-adulthood under the guidance of three mature women; Grandma Bessie, Midge, and Helen; started at age 17 and ended at the age of twenty

my young adulthood in the military started at 20 and ended at the age of twenty-six

my active role as wife (started when I was 21) and mother (began when I was 25) ended at the age of twenty-nine

my active role as college student began when I was 26 and ends when I graduate at age thirty-three

my role as openly-gay mother began at the age of 36 my sons left home to be on their own by the time I was 46 (empty nest)

my overt (out in the open to myself and others) battle with and acceptance of my base sexuality started when I was 29 and resolved at the age of forty-nine

my middle-aged journey with self acceptance and self-identity began at 49--still in progress at age fifty-nine

my role as surviving parent began at age fifty-six and is still in progress.

I became a grandma the first time when I was 47--I am now a grandma 6 times; all grandsons.