PERIODS OF LIFE

childhood – dzieciństwo
newborn baby – noworodek
baby – niemowlak
infant – niemowlak, małe dziecko
infancy – okres niemowlęcy
toddler – dziecko dopiero uczące się chodzić, szkrab, malec
two-year-old child – dwulatek
child/ children – dziecko/ dzieci
kid – dzieciak (potocznie)
to grow – rosnąć
to come up to school age – dojść do wieku szkolnego

adolescence – wiek dojrzewania

teenager, adolescent – nastolatek
puberty – dojrzewanie
to be under age – być osobą nieletnią
youth – młodość
to grow up – dorastać
to mature – dojrzewać
juvenile – młodociany
minor – nieletni

being an adult – dorosłość

mature – dojrzały
maturity – dojrzałość
adult, grown-up – dorosły
to reach majority – osiągnąć pełnoletność
to be of age – być osobą pełnoletnią
to come of age – osiągnąć pełnoletność
to set up a family – założyć rodzinę
to get pregnant – zajść w ciążę
pregnancy – ciąża
to expect a baby – spodziewać się dziecka
to give birth to a baby girl – urodzić córeczkę
to bring up a child – wychowywać dziecko
to be in one’s prime – być w kwiecie wieku
mid-life crisis – kryzys wieku średniego
to get old – starzeć się
to look young for one’s age – wyglądać młodo jak na swój wiek
to reach retirement age – osiągnąć wiek emerytalny
old age pensioner, retired person, senior citizen – emeryt
She is in her early forties. – Ona ma około 40-43 lat.
He is in his mid fifties. – On ma około 54-56 lat.
They are in their late teens. – Oni mają około 17-19 lat.
to be in one’s twenties, thirties etc. – być w wieku 20, 30 lat

Childhood
I get on with my younger brother quite well but I wish he would come up to school age. Although he is not an infant anymore, he is still a toddler who cannot play football or surf the Net. He is a two-year-old child who has to grow up to be a good company for his older brother.

Adolescence
The life of a teenager is not easy. Youth is wonderful but as long as I am under age I have to obey my parents’ decisions. I try to discuss my future with them but they keep on saying I am still a minor and I do not know what is good for me. When I get angry they claim it is because of the difficult time of puberty.

Being an adult
My older sister is in her twenties and she has already set up a family. She gave birth to a baby girl last week. She was extremely irritable during her pregnancy so we are glad that the difficult time is over. My mum is happy to be a grandmother. She is in her prime and she looks extremely young for her age. She has never shown any signs of mid-life crisis. It is a pity she has not reached retirement age yet as she cannot help my sister take care of the baby. I am seventeen so I believe I am responsible and mature enough to babysit for my sister when she wants to go out with her husband?