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Some of the questions Mr. and Mrs. Bush asked about the American Home Finding were the length of time a child was kept in a boarding home or in this home before he was adopted and how parents are selected and for how long a period are they known and how long a period are the parents prepared before a child comes into their home. Is nationality and coloring taken into account. They also asked if apprehension was taken into account. They also wanted to know how we prepare a child for adoption and they stated that they had told the children they were bringing them here and that they would have a new mother and father, that they would each have a new mother and father who would give them the things which Mr. and Mrs. Bush are unable to give them and they would have a much better chance in their individual futures as a result in that it was hard for Mr. and Mrs. Bush to take care of them any longer and felt in the best interests of the children that they should be given to other parents in order to have a normal childhood and a normal adjustment and adaptation to life in general. It was stated that all the children have been baptized as Catholics and that only Dick has had one year of school in Chicago. This was a kindergarten class in parochial school. At the hesitation of Mr. and Mrs. Bush on saying anything further at this time to the children, that they were leaving and the children could get in touch with them if they chose through Mr. Seabrook and that contact would be maintained intermittently between Mr. Seabrook and Mr. and Mrs. Bush for the convenience of the children and any other persons involved. Therefore, Mr. Seabrook agreed to further prepare these children for adoption in addition to what Mr. and Mrs. Bush had done in their own home and help Mr. and Mrs. Bush as they said goodbye to the children in that “We won’t be back but it won’t be impossible to get in touch” and at this, Dick had said, “Mommy, someday I have lots of dimes and I’ll give you a call.”
Mr. and Mrs. Bush also stated that sometimes they only have two meals a day in that they are financially unable to provide anymore than this.
Mrs. Bush’s nationality is English and Dutch and is an only child. She attended high school in Ottumwa and graduated from Ottumwa Heights after two years of study as a liberal arts major. She stated that she enjoyed writing and during the time she was in Ottumwa had had a radio program on which was your favorite organ tunes played by your favorite organist, Lynn. Mrs. Bush has been blind since she was six weeks old in that medication applied at the time of birth caused her to lose sight of one eye and steadily the other eye went blind as well. The main problem she felt which had initiated this release of the children was her health. She felt that she was physically unable to care for these children and was steadily becoming less capable.