About two weeks ago, we got a letter in the mail that our oldest had an appointment with USCIS to obtain his US citizenship certification. I was so excited! I told the boys we would not have school that day and we would celebrate! We made our plans and waited eagerly. In my mind, we were going to a court room with a kind judge who would smile kindly down at our new son and begin to recite an oath. Ruslan would raise his hand and repeat the oath through his thick, Ukrainian accent and the judge would pronounce him a US Citizen. Ruslan would be overjoyed at his new allegiance. He would pose proudly with the American flag. Perhaps a bald eagle would fly by a nearby window.
Ha!
Here's what REALLY happened.
"Get up! Get up now! We have to be there at 9 a.m.!"
"We might have time for breakfast on the road if you hurry up and get dressed!"
In the drive thru- "What do you mean you have to go to the bathroom? Didn't you go at home?" "No. I didn't need to go then." (my 7 yr old)
"No you can't have my iphone. Your brother has it...yes, I know he's had it forEVER. You can have it on the way back!"
"Hurry inside! We have 3 minutes!"
Musical chairs in the waiting area as one by one, all of our children began to pick on or be picked on by one another for the next hour...while we wait. "Look straight ahead of you. Count the tiles on the ceiling. Chew some gum. Day dream! Read a book!"
Then it happened. We were called to a window, where a man through glass explained what papers Ruslan had to sign, messed up, and apologized. No oath. No judge. No flag. No bald eagle. Wa wa wa
We made the boys (both of them) pose by the American flag in the waiting area. They refused to be serious. Then they refused to smile. Both our American boys were workin' my last nerve, too and I took off for the car like a mall walker.
Once I calmed down, I used google translate to say something like, "I am your mom now and I am proud of your accomplishment today. Moms take pictures when they are proud of their children."
They just looked at me.
Shattered dream?
Well, what was I thinking? They've been here all of 8 weeks. They're hardly over the culture shock, I'm sure! They don't love their new country like I do because it's their NEW country. It's not home yet. Just like they're getting used to our family, they're getting used to their new land. It's a big deal to me because I understand and appreciate the benefits of being an American citizen. It's a boring deal to them because it was a long time to wait in a boring room to sign a fancy piece of paper that they can't even read and understand.
Lesson learned.
Big day? Bad day? Big bad day.
BUT, it's one less paper we have to sign! Hooray! (confetti)
