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They decided to release these five children to the American Home Finding because it was impossible to pick one child to keep and yet adopt the others, consequently, they decided to adopt them all out to the American Home Finding. The daughter, Sally, went to a maternal aunt in that Sally had spent a good deal of time in their home and they did want her and consequently decided that she should be placed in that home for future adoption although at this date, the papers have not been signed. Different ideas that came up through the interview were that Mr. Bush considered Mrs. Bush a virtual prisoner to the children and because she is in poor health, has been unable to give her all to these children and is “bogged down” by the demands of these children. They rationalized in giving up these children by saying that dealing with heart aches of their own, if you really love them, you must give them up, that it is selfish to keep them. “There are so many things you can’t do for them, any regrets about giving them up are only selfish.” Mrs. Bush at one point said, “I know what I have to do and that is give these children up.” She stated the reason that they had had so many children was that she loved babies and Mr. Bush, too, said that she was good with kids and that is probably why they had so many. 

Mrs. Bush said her attitude was at first, “I’ll show ’em I can take care of them.” Now she says, “that I must face myself and other people that I am not as competent as I think I am. It is impossible for me to any longer take care of them.” Mrs. Bush commented, too, that it is impossible for them to take them to parks and zoos because there are so many and it is hard for them to handle them; she has a cane and he has a dog. There are little things like crossing the street and pointing out what signs mean. This is all impossible for a blind person to explain to another person in that these people have never seen these things. Although Mrs. Bush said, “Things are small, yet they add up to make a child’s life.” Mrs. Bush, too, commented that her happiest memories of recent and some of her happiest dreams as a result are of a hospitalization period which she had and what great joy she had at analyzing all the doctors and nurses and the philosophical discussions that took place. The other memories that she reiterated was a trip to the beauty parlor and she said she felt like a free man again and like a normal person, not a burden to those around her. 

They had heard about the American Home Finding through Mrs. Bush’s mother, Doris Albertson, in Ottumwa and had finally over a matter of weeks and months of soul searching, had decided that this was the best step to take and although she said the relatives would not be happy about this and what relatives knew about it were appalled. It was something that they had to make a decision on, that they had to decide on and do. They knew this now and were trying to be unselfish about this. 

Mrs. Bush explained a little bit about what their home life was like and her attitude toward children. One of the things she said was “if they are old enough to ask questions, I’m old enough to answer them and they are obviously ready for an answer.” She also stated that Mr. Bush is a stalwart in their family and that it is he who makes the solid judgements although discipline has been joint. She stated that they had talked philosophically with the children a great deal and said they were great arm chair philosophers. She stated that their arguments are quiet and mainly are discussions and no harsh language or screaming at each other and did not mention any particular discipline methods that they had used with the children.