Dear Lavrushenka,
This may or may not come as a shock to you, but I am an American just like you. And at the same time – I am not! What makes me different? Russia does, son. While we’re both “from here,” I’m also “from there.” Let me explain.
You’re seven and a half now and that’s how long you’ve been an American. That’s what happens to babies that are born here: it’s automatic. Now, take twice your age and add a few more years – that’s how long I lived in Russia before coming here. Did that make me American? Not right away – I had to wait another seven and a half years. Why? Because as a grown-up I had a choice to just live here as my old self as a permanent resident, or start my life as a new American by becoming a citizen.
Does it really matter? For me, the answer has everything to do with being an immigrant (meaning, from somewhere else). I came here because I wanted a better life. I felt that to do that, I had to start my life over, become a “newborn.” And like with all babies, it takes time. Think about it. First, your mom and I met, got to know each other, got married and eventually you came along. It’s kind of like that with becoming a U.S. citizen and is definitely worth the wait!
I know what you’re thinking: what happened to my old, Russian self? Nothing, son. We still speak Russian at home, don’t we? We read Russian books and play Russian games, right? As Americans, we all have a proud history – our heritage – that we carry with us. This pride in where we are from helps us understand and appreciate where we are now. It’s like we need the clouds of yesterday to know how wonderful the sun is today.
Have a sunny day, my love!
Your All-American Dad
By Leonid Orlov
Leonid Orlov works in the Family Life Education department. In addition to meeting with authors and writing emails all day, he coordinates psychoeducational events on a variety of lifespan topics. Leonid has a Master’s in counseling and is a published qualitative researcher. He enjoys spending time with his wife and son, even when not volunteering at his elementary school.
