My mom told me about my first six weeks.

[Borneo]

1965. The night she brought me home was Friday, Sep 5th. There was a new TV show starting that night and she became a big fan right away. The show was Get Smart.

She said that back then, she was never given any choice. Circumcisions were just done. Being only 17, that must've been all but overwhelming for her. She never understood why it was done, just that all baby boys had it done.

Normally, in 1965, circumcisions were performed by pediatricians at the 6 week check up, she said. She told me I was circumcised a day or two after birth, in the hospital, supposedly by the obstetrician. She said that was unusual. She wanted to know why it was necessary, and since she thought she had 6 weeks to protect me, she had time to ask questions. She said she cried hen she changed my diapers and saw my scab. My grandfather said it was ridiculous. There is no reason to do that to a baby, is what he said. My dad didn't want it either, or at least according to Mom. Neither had a choice.

When it was time for my six week check up, the doctor saw that I was starting to re-adhere... Growing back together is what she said. He yelled at her. He told that she was supposed to make sure that it was separated so it would heal properly. She started getting upset on the next part. He then took my penis in his fist and violently yanked it down, ripping the adhesion apart again. She said I screamed holy hell, and I could've waked the dead. She cried (17 year old mother, by the way). she said I bled in my diapers for 2 days after that, and that they would stick to my penis from the coagulation.

She never talked about it to me until I told her about my problems with it, that I was sorry that my 2 nephews were mutilated too, mainly because of nephew 1's grandfather and his demands, and #2's father who just wanted it done. I tried to give my opposition to my sister, but my voice wasn't as shrill. I also described that I had this scar on my glans for as long as I can remember, and don't ever remember cutting myself down there when I was little. She remembered my six week check up though.

Funny. I'm not for a "parents choice" on this issue, but it seems that had my teenage parents actually had a choice, then I would be intact today. But of course "Back then, it was just done"

[TopHat]

How repugnant of that doctor for not only getting belligerent over your mother not knowing how to tend to your circumcision, something which neither she nor you asked for in the first place. And the fact that he had the gall to brazenly inflict further abuse on you by tearing your adhesion apart with his bare hands, I just don't know how to react to that. I just don't understand how somebody could be so cold and indifferent to the suffering of another human being as that doctor was to you.

At any rate, thank you for sharing your story.

[Lyle Croft]

Your mother sounds really caring and sweet

[madbr3991]

thank you for sharing it is hard i know.

this is the age of the internet. we get instant feedback for everything. routine circumcision will not survive the century. the more people that speak out the faster and louder our voice becomes.