Circumcision

I have been busy and the things I have wanted to FIF about just keeps on growing so without further ado todays topic circumcision.

Here's the background: Just about 8 years ago I found out I was pregnant. I went to the OBGYN, while I was being weighed and blood pressure taken I was asked a series of questions. Questions that I now wonder why they were asking me at 11 weeks pregnant, but asked non the less. Questions one, do you want and epidural when you are in labor, answer; yes. Question two, if it is a boy do you want to circumsize him, answer a little more hesitantly, yes. Reason for the hesitation I hadn't discussed this with Danny, and I actually didn't know if religiously I needed to. All the little boys I had ever babysat where circumsized, Danny was, all my brothers were, but no one from church had ever laid out doctrine to me stating that we needed to do this. At the time I stuck with my yes, went home and asked Danny and he looked at me like duh, of course we will. Fast forward 9 weeks, we found out we were having twin girls and the subject wasn't revisited. A few years later I was pregnant again, with a girl, the answer was the same at the OB life goes on.

Then we moved to GA, were a lot changed for us, I got pregnant we decided not to find out what we were having. BUT this time I wanted to know why we should circumsize, if in fact we were supposed to, and I wanted to make sure I was doing what I felt right in my heart. So I researched, and read, and talked with people, and asked others why they did what they did. We had a boy 2 years ago, and he is intact.

Generally at this point in my post I copy and paste my relevant article, but because the article I have selected uses correct terminology, I would like to avoid crazy google hits to my blog, please click the link read the article and come back and finish my post :) CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

My argument for circumsision: I have none.
My argument against circumsision: The article referenced above states that it is more painful and more difficult to recover from if done as an adult. I would argue that if a grown man feels pain when cut, a small fresh infant is going to feel the exact same pain when cut, he just can't vocalize it as well. If there is no commandment from God to circumsize than there is no reason to remove something on a boys body, I don't think the foreskin was placed there by "accident". Also to answer this I would like to share what the last two years have been like with an intact boy. It has been just the same as a parents experience with a circumsized boy. Wait a few differences I have noticed, not once did Nathan pee on me during a diaper change. And I didn't have to care for a fresh wound on my newborn. The foreskin doesn't retract until puberty so hygene has been a non issue, one is not cleaner than the other. Nathan hasn't asked, and I don't think he will ask why his dad and him don't look the same. On a side note, Danny's dad being born in Germany, is intact this never caused concern for Danny.

These are the two most common arguments I have heard as to why people have chosen to circ their son. It is my job to teach my son hygene, and good self esteem. If someone were teasing him for being intact I would want to know what's up with the kid that is not only checking my sons "stuff" out but making this fact known by teasing him about it.

This is a question of truth versus tradition. Do you do it cause your parents did, or because of the truth and conviction you feel for the matter.

Link for LDS parents who want to know:ASK GRAMPS
MORONI 8:8