There have been a couple issues on facebook that have been bothering me for a while. It's finally come to the point where I feel I need to "declare" myself and put it to rest. WARNING: These issues are sensitive. If you get offended easily, you should probably stop reading. Please note, however, this is just MY opinion and where I stand.
The first - whether or not to have your boys circumcised. Josh and I made the decision with Braxton to have the procedure done. I think the deciding factor was that it was a procedure done in the scriptures to show obedience to Christ. I know that there is no religious affiliation today, but we felt good about our decision and went ahead. He didn't cry any harder during the process than he did when he was getting immunizations. Dustyn was a little different. We were in the middle of changing pediatric clinics when he was born. By the time the issue came up, he was too old to be circumcised in the office. However, he was declared to have what's called a penial torsion, which made it "medically necessary" to have his foreskin removed. He was 11 months old when it was done. He was put under general anesthesia and came out of it just fine. From the research I've done, there may be a few more pros to having it done, but those pros don't really mean anything stacked against the cons. My problem stems from others who have very strong, aggressive opinions that suggest that I am an unworthy mother for letting this happen to my sons. Here's my thought on the matter. Whether you do, or whether you don't it's up to you. Don't act like you're protecting your son from a fate worse that death because you're not comfortable with the procedure. Claiming that your son is still "intact" suggests that my sons are missing something; that they are no longer whole. Bull. There are greater risks to having our children immunized. They cry just as hard. The effects of an allergic reaction could be deadly. I have to disagree to those who feel circumcision is barbaric. Come on, really? It's not like the doctors and parents come together for the intention of putting these boys threw "unspeakable pain" and laugh as the procedure is done. There is nothing wrong with parents who choose this for their sons...there is nothing wrong with parents who don't. There are greater injustices to blog about - how to protect our children from sexual predators; how to protect our nation from others who feel we are undeserving of all we have been blessed with. I understand that there are some who have had terrible experiences, and their sons may have not healed as well as mine. Share your story, share your opinion, but STOP looking down on others who choose differently than you.
Second - Babies: The Movie. I have seen about five seconds of this movie, and that was five seconds too much. Any movie with exposed body parts is not ok in my book. Some feel it is an accomplishment to let your children watch it and "not freak out" that there are naked women in it. This is where I stand. I am trying very hard to raise two worthy priesthood holders. Allowing them to see women baring all to nurse their babies is not going to help me in my quest. In my opinion, it's an innocent form of pornography. I understand that this movie was not made with the intention of arousing sexual feelings. It's simply a documentary on how mothers nurse in different cultures. But my sons are old enough that these images could stick in their heads, and have some very damaging effects later. This is also why we will never have Barbies in our home. My boys had the chance to play with cousins last weekend, and they were all playing with barbies. Watching them dress and undress these dolls was a very uncomfortable experience. They will have the opportunity to explore the female body when they are married. Naked dolls with a nice rack is not what my boys need to see or be around.
Alright, those are my issues and getting them out makes me feel much better. I'm not trying to start a debate, or cause hard feelings. I just felt I needed to declare where I stand. Now you know.
