Bill Belew has raised 2 bi-cultural kids, now 34 and 30. And he and his wife are now parenting a 3rd, Mia, who is 8.

How do parents of bi-cultural children become a US citizen?

I know the answer.

First, you have to become a Mommy.

Mommy is a US Citizen

Then you go to a big celery moment (Ed: ceremony). And old people tell stories that little people don’t really understand or, to be honest, don’t even care about.

Then there is some singing and some hand waving and some flag waving and some more singing but without music.

Then some clapping and handing out of envelopes and and and… big smiles.

Today my Mommy got a US sit on the ship. (Ed. citizenship)

I don’t know why but my daddy says we should be really really proud of her.

So, I am. Proud of her that it.

Daddy said it took her a long time to make such a big decision. And she had to know stuff – American history, and do stuff – mountains of paper work, and live stuff – she’s been in America for a long time.

I am pretty sure that my mommy was not only the prettiest one there today – she was also the pretty smartest one there, too.

68 countries – 416 people (about half of them were Indians and none of them were cowboys).

I am a happy little girl. But there is one thing that makes me even happier than being happy. And, that’s when my mommy is happy. And today I thought her face was going to break from such a big smile. Me, too!

Congratulations, Mommy!!

Talk to Bill and others about their experiences raising bi-cultural Japanese-American kids.