Former First Lady Bush Honored With Women's Achievement Award In Delaware
By Pat Ciarrocchi
WILMINGTON, Del. (CBS) - Former First Lady Laura Bush brought 800 people to their feet at the Chase Center in Wilmington for the Padua Academy Women's Achievement Award.
This is the fourth year that Padua - an all-girls Catholic school - presented the award, but the first time to a woman of such world-wide recognition.
In an exclusive interview with CBS 3's Pat Ciarrocchi, Mrs. Bush said she didn't discuss politics, but was committed to policies on education and health care and extending freedom around the world.
She also spoke about the transition from public life to private life.
She and Former President George W. Bush are living back in Dallas. President Bush has become an artist -- taking instructions almost daily, surprising Mrs. Bush.
"Who would have thought? I certainly didn't." Mrs. Bush said.
The recent opening of the Bush Presidential Library was particularly moving, when the five President's in attendance walked past a steel beam that came from the World Trade Center -- a symbol of the horror of September 11, 2001.
Mrs. Bush said she believes though we are still fighting terrorism now, we won't always.
Literacy is still a passionate cause for the former librarian. When asked about parenting and children, she zeroed in on our tech-obsessed families.
She said parents are distracted and they need to put down their blackberry's and engage with their children eye to eye. She said children need to know they are loved and cared about.
Her greatest joy to date is the birth of her granddaughter, Mila. She said even talking about her makes her weep.
