Curcumcision

toddzgurl wrote: [COLOR=blue] Are you going to have this procedure done I believe that it will make the child a little happier with his body.

kimberley replied: i had both the boys done and would have with Jade too if she were a boy.

DansMom replied: No, I'm totally opposed to the procedure for my child, but unlike some activists for keeping boys intact, I'm not judgmental toward those who decide to have it done.

There is a huge, and very emotional thread, on this topic that started about a year ago I think (maybe more). This is like religion or the war in Iraq---people get so entrenched in their point of view.

BTW, I know plenty of men who are very happy with their bodies as nature designed them (intact). I think being happy with your body has nothing to do with whether someone decided to cut part of it off when you were a little baby. Lots of little boys, when told why they are intact and don't look just like daddy or cousin Josh, thank their parents for not cutting off a natural part of their bodies. I know, I said I wasn't judgmental about this issue---but I am I guess LOL.

mitchzgirl replied: If my little one is a boy I will be getting it done, for hygeine puposes, uncircumsized penises have more of a chance for schmagma, but it's a completely personal decision, and I respect everyone's views.

Kaitlin'smom replied: if I had a boy I would not, I am not opposed to thoes who choose to do it. You do what you feel is best. I feel however its his body and he should make the choice if and when he is ready, just like I wont pierce her ears until she asks and is ready.

jcc64 replied: What Tracy said.
We have 3 intact guys here, one of them dh, and never had any health, hygeine, or "locker room" issues. Not one.

I know we've had this discussion here before at great length, as has the other board I post on. One interesting aspect of this debate to me is that mothers seem to get much more riled up about this issue than the fathers. Anyone else notice this????

favre4fan replied: I have both boys done. Everyone has their opinions so i don't think their is any right or wrong..

Littlejojames replied: I dont think that i will ever have my son done but i dont have a problem with it. If eveyone followed the same rules then it would be a boring world.

You should do what you believe in nothing is right or wrong like Favre4fan said.

5littleladies replied: IF ( ) we ever manage to have any boys we will have them circumsized. Dh and I both agree on this, for several reasons, one of them being this-We don't necessarily believe in circumcision for religious reasons (meaning we don't think a person HAS to have it done) but since circumcision was God's idea it can't be a bad thing. JMO

redchief replied: I voted not.

Both of my boys were circumcized... After my training and over the years I feel that was an unfair decision to make on what I believed was in their best interest.

Truly though, that's a decision that must be discussed with the family. Being "like" others is important to boys, but careful explanation of differences should dispel most of these fears and allow them to be comfortable regardless of your choice.

In Europe, it is highly uncommon for boys to be circumsized except for medical necessity and religeous requirements.

3xsthefun replied: If my husband and I ever have a boy yes he will be circumcised.

jcc64 replied:

Could you elaborate on this, please. Are you referring to the Jewish practice of circumcision?
I've always been curious about the historical/biblical origins of this.

favre4fan replied: As redchief stated about Europe this is very true. Nolan was born in a german hospital and they would not circumsize him their. I could not have him in an american hospital at the time because only military women that were preggo got to go to the american hospital because of desert storm. Then I still could not take him to the american hospital to get circumsized they had to send me to another German doctor that did do them and it took 4 months before it was done because other women had to wait as well.

ediep replied: Jason is circed and I would also do it for any other boys if I were to have more

A&A'smommy replied: my dh is so If I we have boys we will get it done.

5littleladies replied:
Yes, the first recorded circumcision that I am aware of is in the Old Testament when Abraham was circumcised as a sign of his covenant with God. (Genesis chapter 17) The Israelites were instructed to circumcise their baby boys from that point on as a sign of their covenant. What's interesting is that God told them to circumcise the baby no earlier than 8 days old and we now know that infants blood doesn't have the ability to clot for the first week which is why they get vitamin k (?) shots at birth. If they would have been circumcised any earlier they could have bled to death. Interesting, huh?

~Roo'sMama~ replied: yes any boys we have we will have circumcised. I agree with 3littleladies... I don't think it's wrong to not do it but since it was God's idea to begin with it must be a good thing.

coasterqueen replied: If we have a boy he will be circumsized. Dh feels very strongly for this and after a lot of discussion I will let him make this decision and stand by it.

paradisemommy replied: our son is circ and any other sons we may be blessed with will be to. our choice.

redchief replied: hmmm... Genesis 17 also says we should have our slaves circumsized.

I didn't really want to get into the biblical references because they are confusing, but in Acts 15, the lack of observance of Mosaic Law (which includes circumsision as a requirement on the 8th day after birth) did not mean that that person may not be saved.

At the Council of Florence, the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church reiterated Sts. Peter and Paul's stand that observance of Mosaic Law was more symbolic than a requirement, and that circumsision has no basis in any Sacrament. Again... the reasons for or against circumsision shouldn't be religeous in the Christian faiths. If they are, then the answer is that the Church, on many occasions, has decided the practice is unnecessary.

jolene555 replied: my man and i are at odds over this discussion. lucily we did not have a boy, yet. he says he cannot make his son go through it, i prefer to have it done. he told me that if i can stand to stay in the room and hear him scream i can have it done. i don't know if i could even do that!

mama3x replied: I voted for "get it done".

DS is and this little one on the way will get it done as well. My opinion is that it's a private decision between mom and dad.

5littleladies replied:
I'm pretty sure I said that circumcision is not necessary for salvation-maybe not in those exact words but that is what I implied. I merely stated that since God was the one who originated circumcision it probably isn't a bad thing.

Boys r us replied: I say God created my little boy's body just the way he wanted it!!

FroggyJK replied: My son is circumsized and if we have a boy this time we will have it done again.

Kirstenmumof3 replied: I had my son done when he was 1 day old. He never felt a thing and slept right through the procedure.

grandpa2003 replied: Those who state that infant circumcision is not necessary are quite correct - technically. My wife acknowledged this when we had our son but she was of the view that having him circumcised was much more convenient for her and then also for her to be assured that as he started bathing himself, that was one area that was more likely to be a little cleaner, given that active young boys frequently pay little attention to proper cleanliness in late childhood. I supported her in this decision and our sons were circumcised. My daughter and her Mom discussed this subject and my daughter had our grandson circumcised when he was born last year.
Clearly it is a personal and family decision. Circumcision is not some vital 'cure all' for everything. At the same time, however, it is useful and beneficial for most boys as an aid to cleanliness and as prevention of nasty little problems which occur for males more often than we might want to admit.
Good luck in your choice.

greatkate replied: I understand that its the parents choice, cause hey, face it, the baby cant talk! BUt, wouldn't it really hurt later in life?? I would just think that a boy would feel wierd if he wasn't circumsized. You know how kids are, they dont want to be different like that. I dont know, I cant really speak, cause I am not a guy, but from a womans perspective, not like I have seen a lot of penises, but I think if I saw one "wearing a turtleneck" it would freak me out!! IS it painful for a guy later in life?? I keep thinking of that episode of Sex in the City where Charlotte is dating that uncircumsized guy that freaks her out, so he gets circumsized for her. It took like a month before it would work again! Anyone see that one? (p.s I know tv is fiction) I agree it should be the boys choice, but is isn't painful later? And who would choose to not have it done?

jcc64 replied: There are many moms on this board (including me) who have chosen not to circumcise for a variety of reasons. Neither of boys are circ'ed, nor is my dh. Those of us who've been on this board for awhile have diplomatically agreed to disagree on this very personal issue, and I have no interest or intention of talking someone into my way of doing things. However, I really have to take issue with a few recent comments. I find the cleanliness argument particularly irksome. While boys can sometimes be lazy about thorough cleaning, I think it's a big leap to cite that as a reason to remove a body part. My 9 yr old son doesn't clean behind his ears on a regular basis, either. Should I cut them off too? My boys are not little, one is approaching his teens, and we've never had any medical issues related to their intact penises. (nor has dh, who is 39)n
And as for the "freak out" factor, frankly I find the comment a little offensive. FYI- an erect uncirc'd penis looks identical to a circ'd one. And the circ rate here in the States stands roughly at 50%, which means that a non circ'ed boy will be in very good company in the oft cited hypothetical locker room embarassment scenarios.
Finally, as I've said time and time again, dh and sons are all athletes and have logged ALOT of naked time in locker rooms, and NOT ONCE has another child/man made a comment about their penises. If they had, I've taught them to simply respond, "Why exactly were you looking at my penis?" which should end the discussion right there.
A little respect goes a long way......

greatkate replied: I really hope I did not offend you with my comments. You have every right to do what you want to do, and no one should make you feel bad about it. I am just unknowledgeable to the whole situation and until today did not know it was such a hot debate issue. Don't get upset about other peoples ignorance, just try to educate them. (which you have done for me! )

jcc64 replied: No problem!

angelhair replied: my son had it done, did not feel strongly either way but sh wanted it done. I agree to respect everyones views and it is a personal decision between you and your hubby. there is no right or wrong answer just what you both are comfortable with love dee

dreamweaver82 replied: I will get it done for my boy when he's born for hygiene and that he won't remember it now and if i leave it up to him he might not want to for pain reasons. I think its better for him so he doesn't feel different than every other man. There's not many that don't have it done.

bravofrenchie replied: No, if I have a son, I will not have him circumcised. I could go into a very long discussion on why, but in keeping peace, I will not. I just believe that it is his body, and I have no right to do anything to his body without his consent unless it is medically necissary to preserve his immediate health and life.

victoire2002 replied: I actually had no opinion on this whatsoever when our DS, Aidan, was born.

I asked my DH to make the decision. His response? "Well, we wouldn't do it to a girl, so why would we do it to a boy?" Boy, let me tell you this sure changed my point of view quickly.

I don't believe we'd ever do this because it's not in our belief system (we're not Jewish). I don't judge those who decide to have the procedure done, though.

Vicki

victoire2002 replied:
Good question... I dated a French guy during my 20s and he was not circ'd. It didn't bother him a bit, and didn't bother me a bit either!

Vicki