Oh, I blew it last week! I feel bad about it – and for those who know and love me – you know am an opinionated gal, no doubt. But I really strive to reserve judgment about people’s choices – and for the most part, especially professionally, I think I do a good job!
Not last Tuesday, however.
Someone asked me about circumcision – in particular how to talk to her son about why his penis is different from his circumcised dad’s and how to keep things clean, etc.
I told her to be honest with her boy, tell him why his dad’s penis looks different – because it’s intact! And here’s where I headed over the judgmental edge…I talked about how circumcision is not necessary, it’s mean, pointless and unfair. I didn’t quite use those words, but close enough.
Whoops!
I managed to offend a Jewish mom who chose to circumcise her son – for religious reasons. She kindly pointed out to me that I was being judgmental and not everyone circumcises “so they can look like Daddy” and other non-health or non-religious reasons.
She said she wanted her son to feel good about his body – circumcision and all – and if he hears about how wrong being circumcised is, well, he might feel bad about his body.
Ug. She’s right and the last thing we need is yet another reason to feel bad about our bodies. Any of us – circumcised or not – have the right to be accepted for who we are, foreskin or no.
I still think circumcision is a bad idea, in particular if it is treated as though it is no big deal – “like clipping a fingernail.” However, it really is more important for me to respect parents’ choices, even if I don’t agree with them, than to get on my soap box and prove myself right.
