Funny as I NEVER thought I’d be posting about circumcision on a real estate website!
However, I feel so strongly about the issue after having gone through this with my son.
Here is my background and thoughts on this.
I was from a strong Catholic family (although now I’m non-practicing and don’t even go to church). I think that the Catholic church actually takes a neutral stance on it but back when I was a kid it seemed like everyone was circumcised. I was the eldest son in the family and I was circumcised.
My younger brother was not. I remember my parents telling me that they didn’t want to go through the agony of watching another child go through that.
But I remember watching my brother grow up (this was many years ago when I was younger). There was quite an age difference between me and my young brother.
I remember in school he said he was always teased by the other kids (he went to an all Catholic private school) and I think all the other boys were circumcised.
I remember sometimes he would yell at my parents and ask them why they didn’t circumcise him too like me. He even thought about getting it after the fact when I talked him out of it. (Again this was a LONG time ago some 20 years ago).
Ultimately he decided not to get it done and I’m sure he is happy now with his decision. But growing up he was teased.
So fast forward 2 years ago when I had my son. I really debated on if I should have my son circumcised.
I read all the stuff out there and the supposed health benefits, etc. But part of the reason I think I went ahead of it is because I was circumcised and it was normal to me.
I researched the best surgeon to do this. Got many references and had it done.
I can tell you 100% I totally REGRET my decision to get it done. It was so painful watching. They say the baby doesn’t remember as they are so young but I can tell you as a parent, you won’t forget! Now I understand why my parents didn’t have it done on my brother after me.
To make matters worse, after the surgery his penis got all inflamed. We had to put some special cream on it for several days and it was just horribly painful to watch our son suffer like that.
And even today his head of his penis doesn’t show like a normal circumcised penis. Talking to some physicians they say that is normal and that since he has fatty tissue it will take time but eventually it will look normal.
The surgeon said when he is 2 or 3 it will be normal. But you know what? He is 2.5 years old and it’s still the same. It just looks like the end of his penis was snipped off.
His pediatrician here says it will become normal in time with the head coming out. But I have to tell you I totally regret doing it and have tons of regret for doing it.
The medical results are mixed whether it’s beneficial or not when it comes to Aids or STD’s.
But honestly, I would implore any parent out there NOT to have it done! I wish someone gave me a talk or advice like this before we had it done.
I’m sure that when things go right it’s ok but what if things go wrong? Even though the doctors tell us that our son will be normal and he certainly isn’t in any pain now, I still remember the horrible ordeal going through that.
I would definitely spare your child the knife. I should have taken the clue from my parents that didn’t have it done after seeing me go through the pain having it.
If I have another son I DEFINITELY will NOT have it done again and regret my decision on my first son.
