Crazybutgoodlife’s Weblog











{July 16, 2008}   Circumcision

I have never thought that I have had a right to have a major position on circumcision…I am not “equipped”. So when Collin was born I went with Todd’s feelings and we got Collin circumcised. I have had a lot of friends who have VERY strong opinions about this (usually they are not to circumcise)…Well I now feel I have a right to proclaim my opinion for the world (or for my friends who read this blog) to hear! I LOVE circumcision!

When Tristan came home (being from a Latino culture) he was not circumcised. When I spoke to Todd about it he said he preferred him to get circumcised. When I spoke to my ped. he said…why put him through that…he just came home…and he will need to be put out. So I did not push it. Well a couple of days ago we noticed that he had gotten a rather nasty infection (Collin has never had such an infection). I took him to the docs because the poor kid is in some serious pain and they gave him some meds (after taking a sample…shudder)…and it should clear up in a few days to a week. So I decided to ask around to see if this was a common thing….well all those friends who have those great opinions said that it had happened (often) to almost all of them! Well frankly I am just a little shocked…Collin’s circumcision was really no big deal it did not even seem to bother he much after the first few hours (done at birth)…this on the other hand has bother Tristan a GREAT DEAL (not that I blame him)…so to make a fairly long storey short we have decided that we will just go ahead and schedule the procedure…I don’t want him to live through this…so I proclaim that circumcision is truly a wonderful thing!

Edited to read: I understand that I did not give all info in this post and that some people do not know me….however I am aware that the foreskin should not be pushed back to clean (we come from a medical family)…and before it is asked I grew up on a commune until I was 8 and alternative medicine was a huge part of my upbringing. I think that a major problem in this society is that people think that if you do not come to the same conclusion you are uneducated on the issue. I was very educated on circumcision (watched the videos and read the literature). I take ALL decisions about my children seriously. Initially after reading the studies in abstract I did not have a strong feeling that the pros out-weight the cons or vise versa but my husband did. So we did what all married couples should do and compromised. Based on my experience I now have another opinion. I do feel that I am total justified to proclaim in my own blog what *I* feel about the procedure. If you feel differently feel free to proclaim that on your blog!

Edited to Read: Thank-you so much for your wealth of information and your broad assumption that I do not know what the best coarse of action is for my child. I guess you can make whatever decision you feel is best for your own child but I do not have the same right. Please feel free not to read further about this if it offends your sensibilities so much as I have made my decision thank-you-very-much.

Edited to Read: This discussion is now closed. I will not post another thing written about this who does not know our family personally. I do not want any more information as my husband and I have made our decision based on our personal beliefs and our concern for our child. Unless you know us you would have no idea what thought and consideration we put into any decision about our children.



{June 22, 2008}   My Baby is Not a Baby

My youngest Tristan is now 2 1/2 years old and even though I know he is not ready to head out to college he just is feeling so old these days. He is defiantly the youngest of 4 kids and tries to keep up with all the big kids. He is watching his brother and sisters closely and tries to run and jump as high as they do. He tries to sit and listen to stories as still as they do (even though this is maddeningly hard for him) and he dreams of going off to camp and school with them (very hard to say sorry you are too young). I have a ton of friends right now who are expecting babies and I am very comfortable with our decision to have 4 kids but I do miss hold a new baby….I am very ok handing the baby back though :)

I know that our family is moving on to a new chapter in our lives and Tristan is a huge symbol of that. Our kids will soon all be in school and I will be working more (which I love). Very soon all my kids will be able to get into the car and buckle their seats without my help….and soon no one will need me to check their bums (I can only dream right now). Because of all these things I think that sometimes I have expectations for Tristan’s behavior that are not realistic…I do have to remember he is 2 1/2 and not 4 like his brother (even though they often act a lot alike).

Even though all these things are wonderful and I am looking forward to my kids getting older, having real discussions with them, watching them play sports (with some actual skill), and taking cooler family trips I have been a mom of young kids for 8 years. I know how to do this and looking into the world of tweens and tantrums (ok I have seen a few of these) scares me. It scares me because I have to let go more of my kids and trust…not them more…but the world around them more. It scares me because they have voices that have power and weight behind them and I have to remember to listen more. It scares me because we will no longer be that young family anymore and I am getting older. It scares me because I am growing apart from my friends that are not making that transition. It scares me. But it is also exciting…



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