Why do you care what I decide to do to my son's penis when he is born?

[Anonymous]

When I read these posts, sometimes I wonder if I am in a small minority of people who don't actually have strong feelings on this. I just don't. Maybe I don't YET, because I don't have a son. But I wonder if I would develop these really strong feelings if I did. Are any mother's of sons indifferent to the practice? I guess I don't think its necessary at all as a practice (so I don't understand being vehemently pro-circ), but also do not have feelings that its morally reprehensible because its mostly cosmetic in nature for many and I don't put it on par with FGM.

So I just don't have these strong feelings and wonder if there is a lot (silent ?) like me, or if its really that divisive for most people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I read these posts, sometimes I wonder if I am in a small minority of people who don't actually have strong feelings on this. I just don't. Maybe I don't YET, because I don't have a son. But I wonder if I would develop these really strong feelings if I did. Are any mother's of sons indifferent to the practice? I guess I don't think its necessary at all as a practice (so I don't understand being vehemently pro-circ), but also do not have feelings that its morally reprehensible because its mostly cosmetic in nature for many and I don't put it on par with FGM.

So I just don't have these strong feelings and wonder if there is a lot (silent ?) like me, or if its really that divisive for most people.

I think that's most people, including me. We chose not to have our son circumsized because we didn't feel the disputed and negligible health benefits were relevant in the developed world. Also, my DH is from England where it is really only practiced as a religious custom and we are neither Jewish nor Muslim. I genuinely could not care less what other parents choose to do with their sons and I certainly have no interest in trying to get it banned.

[Anonymous]

I wish I'd had my tonsils out at a younger age - they caused me complete pain and misery for most of my childhood until I had them removed at age 25 when I finally had health coverage after college. It was miserable surgery as an adult, I would have much preferred it as a child.

And it's common for this to be an issue.

So there's that. I guess my parents are bad parents for having me have my wisdom teeth removed as well.

[Anonymous]

We decided to have our son circumcised after talking with friends who's family members son had it done at age 12 because on constant infection. We were on the fence and that was just what tipped us over it. Son was a few days old and I have no regrets.

I think its fine either way...people in more urban areas are starting to do it less and less, where I think people in rural areas would be horrified at a non-circed penis.

[Anonymous]

^ because 'of' constant infection...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rest assured, the religious aspect will continue to be respected, and it is probably the only reason why circumcision will not be outlawed. But, eventually, you will pay for it yourself.

Insurance doesn't cover "Jewish" circumcision. Only a hospital one right after birth. So, to actually be a bris, it's moot point - you pay for it out of pocket.

It's a good thing Jews haven't tried to outlaw bacon...or your cheeseburgers or lobster rolls.

Silly comparison. Cheeseburgers and lobster rolls do not alter children's bodies permanently who don't have a say in the matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We decided to have our son circumcised after talking with friends who's family members son had it done at age 12 because on constant infection. We were on the fence and that was just what tipped us over it. Son was a few days old and I have no regrets.

I think its fine either way...people in more urban areas are starting to do it less and less, where I think people in rural areas would be horrified at a non-circed penis.

Your friends' son didn't clean himself properly. Millions of uncircumcised boys and men in Europe don't have "constant infections".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are you? Some kind of pervert? Mind your own business.

Agreed. I just gave my 6 month-old a neck-tattoo of a snake. it's my baby; I can do what I want with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are you? Some kind of pervert? Mind your own business.

Agreed. I just gave my 6 month-old a neck-tattoo of a snake. it's my baby; I can do what I want with it.

If that's really what you think, you should not be a parent. Your baby is not your property.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are you? Some kind of pervert? Mind your own business.

Agreed. I just gave my 6 month-old a neck-tattoo of a snake. it's my baby; I can do what I want with it.

If that's really what you think, you should not be a parent. Your baby is not your property.

I assume this poster is not a parent, because nobody refers to their baby as "it".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I read these posts, sometimes I wonder if I am in a small minority of people who don't actually have strong feelings on this. I just don't. Maybe I don't YET, because I don't have a son. But I wonder if I would develop these really strong feelings if I did. Are any mother's of sons indifferent to the practice? I guess I don't think its necessary at all as a practice (so I don't understand being vehemently pro-circ), but also do not have feelings that its morally reprehensible because its mostly cosmetic in nature for many and I don't put it on par with FGM.

So I just don't have these strong feelings and wonder if there is a lot (silent ?) like me, or if its really that divisive for most people.

I think that's most people, including me. We chose not to have our son circumsized because we didn't feel the disputed and negligible health benefits were relevant in the developed world. Also, my DH is from England where it is really only practiced as a religious custom and we are neither Jewish nor Muslim. I genuinely could not care less what other parents choose to do with their sons and I certainly have no interest in trying to get it banned.

Agree. Most people I know in real life sob't feel terribly strongly about it. I know a couple who do, but most don't. I have a boy and had trouble deciding--didn't feel strongly either way. DH really wanted to have it done so we did. Flame away that I "let my DH railroad me into it" or whatever. As I said, I did not have a strong opinion. I will say I was glad mysecond was a girl. And had a ibeen a single mom, I probably would have skipped it, but I don't care what other people decide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I read these posts, sometimes I wonder if I am in a small minority of people who don't actually have strong feelings on this. I just don't. Maybe I don't YET, because I don't have a son. But I wonder if I would develop these really strong feelings if I did. Are any mother's of sons indifferent to the practice? I guess I don't think its necessary at all as a practice (so I don't understand being vehemently pro-circ), but also do not have feelings that its morally reprehensible because its mostly cosmetic in nature for many and I don't put it on par with FGM.

So I just don't have these strong feelings and wonder if there is a lot (silent ?) like me, or if its really that divisive for most people.

I think that's most people, including me. We chose not to have our son circumsized because we didn't feel the disputed and negligible health benefits were relevant in the developed world. Also, my DH is from England where it is really only practiced as a religious custom and we are neither Jewish nor Muslim. I genuinely could not care less what other parents choose to do with their sons and I certainly have no interest in trying to get it banned.

Agree. Most people I know in real life sob't feel terribly strongly about it. I know a couple who do, but most don't. I have a boy and had trouble deciding--didn't feel strongly either way. DH really wanted to have it done so we did. Flame away that I "let my DH railroad me into it" or whatever. As I said, I did not have a strong opinion. I will say I was glad mysecond was a girl. And had a ibeen a single mom, I probably would have skipped it, but I don't care what other people decide.

I sometimes feel like I am on another planet on this topic. I really have absolutely no feelings about what others choose to do related to circumcision. I will say that just about everyone I know who has a boy has chosen to circumcise or one reason or another. I just don't get the vehemence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are you? Some kind of pervert? Mind your own business.

Agreed. I just gave my 6 month-old a neck-tattoo of a snake. it's my baby; I can do what I want with it.

If that's really what you think, you should not be a parent. Your baby is not your property.

I'm not sure someone with your impaired sense of irony is qualified to be a parent, either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We decided to have our son circumcised after talking with friends who's family members son had it done at age 12 because on constant infection. We were on the fence and that was just what tipped us over it. Son was a few days old and I have no regrets.

I think its fine either way...people in more urban areas are starting to do it less and less, where I think people in rural areas would be horrified at a non-circed penis.

Your friends' son didn't clean himself properly. Millions of uncircumcised boys and men in Europe don't have "constant infections".

I wonder why that is, though. When we were considering what to do, we also heard several stories of boys having it done in the tween years because of infection. As a pp said, boys are not the cleanest creatures.

We circed our child and I'm gladder than ever now because he turned out to have some special needs and has very weak fine motor skills. He's approaching his teens and only recently learned to take a shower on his own and deal with washing his hair and body. With so many families dealing with autism and Asperger's, it's one less thing to worry about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I read these posts, sometimes I wonder if I am in a small minority of people who don't actually have strong feelings on this. I just don't. Maybe I don't YET, because I don't have a son. But I wonder if I would develop these really strong feelings if I did. Are any mother's of sons indifferent to the practice? I guess I don't think its necessary at all as a practice (so I don't understand being vehemently pro-circ), but also do not have feelings that its morally reprehensible because its mostly cosmetic in nature for many and I don't put it on par with FGM.

So I just don't have these strong feelings and wonder if there is a lot (silent ?) like me, or if its really that divisive for most people.

I don't either. I have two sons and with both I thought a lot about the decision. For my first son we had him circumcised and for my second we decided not to. In terms of why I didn't circumcise my second son was really because I just didn't see an overwhelming need to have it done. So we didn't. The first time around I was swayed by the health reasons. I get that other people see them as minimal but at the time I was making the decision, that was a reason for me to have it done. Only time will tell if either or both of my sons hate me for it.

I think that all we can do as parents is make the best decision that we can with all the available information. Undoubtedly people are going to see the same information and come to different conclusions. It's why you have some people going for home births and birthing centers with no drugs and others in hospitals with or without pain medication and vbac's and repeat c-sections. All of those are things I used to have stronger feelings on but now that I've been there twice, I really don't.