Marlee White FAD3220 November 27, 2012 Writing Assignment 3 Michelle Merrill is a 43 year old woman, wife and

mother of six children-thought that will become seven this December. She is the person whom I chose to interview because of the immense impact she has had on and in my life as my best friend and mother. The question that I led the interview off with was: What makes you the happiest in your life and why? Her response was that her family, specifically her children and husband, make her happiest. As to why, she said that she feels completely blessed and doesnt wish for anything else or anything different or even more of something. Michelle also told me that there was no way she could have said this years ago. Her last statement told me that she went through one of those many turning points that happen during life. This psychological transition that led to a change in her perceived meaning of her life (a basic definition of a turning point) was probably triggered by her newer understanding of both her past positive and negative experiences (Papalia and Feldman, 2012). When I asked Mrs. Merrill if she could go back and change anything about her life, she responded that no, she wouldnt. Her reason being that she has a good (second) marriage, that multiply past events contributed to; both negative and positive, with a man who is much more than her first husband ever had been; this is talking about being both a husband and a father. So yet again this refers to the turning point and how, specifically, her past occurrences-both unhappy and happy-gave her a better perception of her present life and those in it. Her answers to my second question also led me to connect them to the fact she does have a

better emotionality or psychological well-being, due to yes, her good marital status and another factor, education (Papalia and Feldman, 2012). Michelle said, in response to my second question, that she has an education if she ever needs it. As a married woman with a higher education she can fit into the statistic that these two factors lead to more positive emotion and less negative (Paplia and Feldman, 2012). The third question I raised to my mom was: What is your greatest accomplishment in life so far? I end up with an enormous and boasting smile on my face as she gives her response-My children; raising good kids. Being in mid-life, and in the stage of generativity, comes with the virtue that a person has more commitment to take care of others and the need to be needed that arises during this time (Paplia and Feldman, 2012). She shows this through her parenting and grand-parenting (she has two grandsons) as she teaches and helps to lead the eight of us onto the correct path. Her children are her biggest accomplishment because she puts so much time, effort and teachings into them. Asking Michelle if she has noticed any physical or cognitive changes in the past five or ten years was how I concluded my interview. A ton more gray hairs, worsening eye site and a slower metabolism, are a few of the physical changes she has noticed. The fact that her short term memory isnt working as quickly anymore made her recognize her aging. Michelle is going through individuation, where her true self is emerging (or old age is showing). She is realizing that she is no longer immortal, gives up that image of the immortal youth and acknowledges, as well as learning to accept the physical and cognitive changes (Papalia and Feldman, 2012). Michelle Merrill is just one of many people experiencing the changes that accompany mid-life.