Elena talks about her back surgery and her relationship with her mom during her recovery. She discusses getting life threatening blood clots and learning to re-walk. 

Elena talks about being compared to her siblings growing up and being told she wasn't good enough for a certain university. 

Elena talks about her memories from Russia going to ballets and being taken to places kids shouldn't see or experience. And while trying  trying to communicate it to her adoptive mother, she got told she was remembering wrong. Lack of communication resulted in frustration and resent growing up. 

Elena continues to talk about her strained relationship with her adoptive mother. She goes into how she got disciplined by her mother and her Outbook paddle story. 

Elena talks about the power of words on people's lives and her rough relationship with her mom, growing up. 

Website: https://www.elenalee.net

Book:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXK8PCX

Elena goes over recovering from COVID and how Americans prioritize health in comparison to other countries. 

Website: https://www.elenalee.net

Book:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXK8PCX

Elena talks about meeting someone through work who wore  a rare three ring interlock band, tying to Russian and European culture which led to conversation about adoption. 

Website: https://www.elenalee.net

Book:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXK8PCX

Elena talks  about language barrier and how to not use it as a crutch

https://www.elenalee.net

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXK8PCX

Elena discusses her fear of dogs when she first came to America and how her adopting her dog was a mirror of how she was adopted.

https://www.elenalee.net

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXK8PCX

Elena talks about 4th of July/Independence Day memories and how she celebrates along with how 9/11 impacted her adoption and her fortune of being able to be in America and celebrating the 4th of July holiday. 

https://www.elenalee.net

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXK8PCX