Andif, forwhateverreason, wemissoutonanyoneofthem, then a partofuswillinthebackgroundbecravingtoreturntofinishthestage, evenifit's onenormallyassociatedwithbeing a toddlerandwehappentobewellintomiddleage.
Wecanendupresponsiblebeforewehavebeenrebellious, emotionallycommittedbeforewehavebeenallowedtohave a goatsexualexploration, orso-calledkindbeforewehavetriedoutnaughtiness.
Theideaofmissingstagesexplainsthephenomenonoftheotherwiseresponsiblelawyerwho, at 42, suddenlyleavestheirfamilyandyoungchildreninordertojoin a commune, orwhoinfuriatestheirbossesandmakes a bizarremistakethatgetsthemfired, ortheoctogenarianwhodivorcestheirspousebecausetheyrealisetheywereneverheldandsimplyallowedtobe, orthe 67-year-oldwho, overthecourseof a fewmonths, takestodrinkandshoutslateatnightinthegardentoventanaggressionandenergythattheywerenevergrantedlicencetoindulgeintheirfamilyofbirth.
Wemayhavetofind a waytoexplainto a long-sufferingspouseorfriendorcolleaguethatwemissedoutontheadoredstage, thenaughtystageorthesexuallyexploratorystage.
Theworldwouldbe a lotcalmerifallofitsoutwardlyadultandyetinwardlybawlingunhappybabiesandfurioustoddlershadbeengiven a chancetobewhotheyneededtobeattheagewhenitwassafestandeasiestforthemtobeso.