The Stages of Life...After College!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) January 27, 2012 -- The common conception about a person’s life after college is to define it by the number of years of work experience.

During the first 4 years, you’re so low on the corporate totem pole yet still very motivated that you work hard and play harder. These are the golden years and although you want to stabilize your career, you also want to ensure you don’t miss out on a little thing called “life.”

In years 5-7 you start to realize that you are no longer the staff, but have more responsibilities outside your own performance at work; you are in charge of others and you supervise and delegate tasks to ensure completeness of the job at hand. Now it is also during these years that you really look at yourself and ask “is this what I want to do for the rest of my life?” Some people say yes, and proceed to climb the corporate ladder, sacrificing their social life for their career (maturity). Others go back to school, learn a new subject, and continue down a different career path (also, maturity). Whichever they choose, their social life takes a hit and work starts to become a larger percentage of life.

From years 8 to around 10, you really stake your claim in your career. For all my basketball readers, you’re either in the starting 5, or you’re on the bench. You are what you are at this point.

Years 10+: The years start meshing together and before you know it…. It’s 2025. Whoa…

Well, I’d like to take another look at the stages of life as an adult from another perspective. It’s much easier to understand I promise. =)

1) Single

2) Taken, but not married

3) Married

4) Married with Kids

During stage 1, you are free to roam as you please; the world is your oyster. You expand your social network at the highest rate during this stage as you make most of your free time (“carpe diem!”). On nights out on the town, you scope out the scene, and ask your friends, “Are they cute? Let’s go talk to them.” Indeed you are, the weekend warrior.

During stage 2, you meet someone and accept the label of girlfriend or boyfriend. Life slows down a little, weekends start to consist of movie nights, parties are substituted with fine dining, and Sundays are considered a day for family, running errands, or resting… no longer is it used for recovering from the night before. However, you still want to be in the “scene” so you live vicariously through your single friends.

During stage 3, you are officially married – till’ death due you part. It’s just the two of you now so take advantage of it. Travel (a lot), have date nights, buy things for yourself, and occasionally go out with the boys or the girls. There are no restrictions so make good use of it before the inevitable occurs… well there’s one restriction. You will learn a new term called “save.” Save for the future… house with a white picket fence and tire swing, a dog named Jake, and little kids playing in the yard. Yes, the future.

During stage 4, you’re married…with kids. Everything changes. You cannot be selfish anymore – kids are your #1 priority. Expenses are not just the bills, car, or mortgage payments anymore, but add in the baby clothes, food, toys, books, diapers, diapers, and more diapers. Instead of attending tailgates or birthday parties at a lounge, you are now going to music class for toddlers. Instead of scoping out the clubs, you will be scoping out the jungle gym… “Is that kid cute? Let’s go talk to his parents.” Once you have met “the” one, you set up the date… the playdate. This is the time to see if both families connect with each other… not just the kids, but the parents.

With that said…meet Joshua Chien, he’s a regular playmate for Jackson. Not only do they somewhat look like twins (maybe because of the outfit?), but they also have the same interests in metallic paint, fruits & cheese, dancing in circles, Splendid clothes, and Justin Bieber. These 2 families are a match - Joshie and JP can entertain each other while their mommies and daddies enjoy their playdate. The Chiens’ and Jue’s are officially dating! Should Facebook add that to their relationship status categories? I think so! =)

Children     cute kids     family     family fun     play date     stages of life     toddlers