When I was really little my mom gave me a big wooden doll that looked like it was hand painted. It looked like a little girl in a blue Easter Dress. My mom had told me to open it up. And there was a smaller version of the doll inside. Out of curiosity, I tried opening the smaller doll. And to my surprise, an even smaller one appeared. After opening multiple that were inside of each other, I put them in a line. My mom then went to get another doll. She told me her mother gave her one when she was my age. She then suggested to me that I should get my daughter one if I ever had one. She told me it was a Russian doll that symbolized how our family came from Russia and Belarus during World War II. It also symbolized the Orthodox religion and how they have a different Easter and Christmas. The doll to this day sits on a shelf in my bedroom as a symbol. And I hope to one day pass this tradition on to the next generation of my family.

– Carlee DeWolfe

Relationship:  Grandchild of im/migrant Grandchild of im/migrant