The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

"ADOPTIVE PARENTS, WARNING!"

IN SEPTEMBER, 1964, WE ADOPTED A LITTLE BABY. WHENEVER WE TOLD
THE GOOD NEWS, WE WERE ALMOST ALWAYS GREETED WITH "WELL, NOW
YOU'LL HAVE ONE OF YOUR OWN. I HAVE AN AUNT (SISTER, SISTER-IN-
LAW, DAUGHTER, ETC.) WHO ADOPTED A BABY AND THE NEXT YEAR THEY HAD
ONE OF THEIR OWN. THEY NOW HAVE (THIS IS USUALLY ADDED FOR
EMPHASIS OR SHOCK, I'VE NOT DETERMINED WHICH) FOUR, FIVE, SEVEN
(OR MORE)."
I GOT THE SAME STORY OR VARIATIONS ON THE THEME FROM: MY MOTHER-
IN-LAW, WHO COMES FROM DECATUR, ILLINOIS; MY DRESSMAKER, WHO HAD
BEEN IN DETROIT ABOUT 3 YEARS AND HAD COME FROM KENTUCKY;
A NEIGHBOR; A SECRETARY IN THE COMMERCE AND FINANCE COLLEGE DEAN'S
OFFICE; AND OTHERS.

Submitter comment: IF ALL GOES WELL, WE PLAN TO HAVE ANOTHER BABY--BY ADOPTION--LATER
THIS YEAR. WONDER WHAT THEY'LL SAY TO THAT?

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 05-00-1965