Question:
My question is for Ryan:
With Jude's 6 month "birthday" quickly approaching, what's the latest with the circumcision? Going to go thru with it, or keep him all naturale?
Answer:
Ahh.... Jude's poor little pee pee... he's only 6 months and it's been through so much.
At the time I read this question I asked Ryan and his response: "oh man, I wanna get him circumsized, but I just keep forgetting".
Our deal was that it's totally up to Ryan what happens. Whether we put him under for a 6 month circumcision or just leave him the way he is with his little dorsal split. I said whatever his decision I would not be the one making the call to schedule it. Instead if he wanted it to happen he would make the appointment. He never made the appointment. This was fine with me because I just am not comfortable with him being put under.
Our reason to initially circumsize was based on what we saw as "normal". The following stats make me re-think it:
"federal data from 1999 showed hospital circumcision rates of 81 percent in the Midwest, 66 percent in the Northeast, 64 percent in the South and 37 percent in the West"
So - where we live, Jude has ALMOST a 50/50 chance of being like the little boy next to him in the gym shower.
This information works for me and considering the ideal time to do the circumcision is now - we will not be putting him through it later.
10.21.2009
To Snip or Not to Snip
Courtesy of Alicia Kennedy @ 11:48 PM
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5 comments:
Please watch Penn and Teller's Bullshit: Circumcision before calling the doctor's office
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIZLna_uzLQ
Seriously, you owe it to your son to be informed before cutting off a part of his body. I also hope you ask yourselves, if not medically indicated, whose body is it and whose right is it to modify it?
Many men wish their penises had been left alone.
http://www.foreskin-restoration.net/forum/
Hey guys,
as a man who has a foreskin, I felt compelled to leave a comment.
When I grew up, circumcision was pretty common amongst my peers. However, it was never an issue. We never once had to get naked together (even though it seems like a common situation in tv shows). I don't think the "showers" are the same anymore, in our more politically-correct age.
I don't think you need to worry about making him "fit in"
Besides, isn't it kind of the wrong message to teach your child that its okay to cut off a healthy part of your penis just to fit in?
I know that my parents were able to teach me to be confident in myself.
Ultimately what I want to say is that the foreskin is a very sensuous, sensitive part of the body. its right next to the head of the penis for a reason, and actually studies have shown that it contains thousands of nerve endings like those found in the fingertips and lips!
I feel quite strongly that healthy, sensitive, valuable genital tissue belongs ONLY to the individual who is attached to it. Not really a decision for the mother or the father, but for the individual when they are old enough to understand the risks and make the choice for themselves.
I know its a body part that I would never EVER want to part with. I hope you will reconsider putting him through this painful and permanent procedure when he doesn't need it.
perhaps I should clarify if it was not clear above that because it has not happened yet and is not scheduled to happen in the near future, he will not be getting the proceedure.
In addition, I'm aware this is a high controversial decision that many people have their own opinions on.
As a woman, I do not/did not feel it was my place to make this decision. Being that my husband was the one with the goods, I allowed him to make the decisionbased on what he would have decided for himself. Obviously since he never called to make the appointment, it was not important enough one way or the other.
Thank you though for your input.
Your decision not to circumcise your son is encouraging. I would like to point out that every parent owes a duty of protection to his/her child.
That includes protection of the bodily integrity and human rights of the child.
I commend you for protecting your child.
Alicia,
Thank you for the clarification. I suppose that while we disagree about whether the decision really should rest on the father instead of on the son when he's older... I DO think its wonderful that you will not put him through the procedure.
You sound like very caring parents, and i am convinced that your son is especially lucky to have you both.
barbie,
(dark ominous voice):
we are the internet.
haha.
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