To Circ Or Not To Circ: That Is The Question

Karen Murphy — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 19:00:00 GMT

When my older son was born eleven years ago, I assumed that he'd be circumcised. After all, the friend whose baby I envied that was practically responsible for my son's birth had circumcised her son. So I'm in the hospital after the birth with The Ex, being questioned by the pediatrician who had made it through our rigorous interview process, and he asks if we're having our son circumcised. "Yes," I say, while at the same time The Ex firmly said: "No." He looked at me like I suddenly had three heads, muttered something about "genital mutilation", and that was that. Since I didn't personally own a penis, I figured The Ex could call this one.

Since then, I've done more research, come to some conclusions, dived out of the mainstream in many other ways, and when eight years later we had another son, there was no question as to whether he'd be circumcised. Which brings me to Much More Than A Mom's recent and comprehensive circumcision post. She has definite opinions, which I recognize not everyone shares, but carefully and fairly respectfully takes apart some of the conventional wisdom supporting circumcision.

In addition! Videos! First, this entertaining piece by Penn and Teller; lots of information and demonstration. How can you go wrong? Next, (and I had to stop it partway through and couldn't finish it), this one that shows a routine circumcision (please usher any children out of the room before you watch it; it's definitely graphic).

This is an emotional issue for people, and I have yet to meet anyone who isn't clearly on one side of the fence or another. What about you? Were your sons circumcised? What led to your decision?

Strollerderby : Penn and Teller

To Circ Or Not To Circ: That Is The Question