There’s a discussion about circumcision going on in a group I’m in, and honestly I have such a hard time with it.

Obviously I’m against circumcision. Most of the women in the group are against it. That’s great! My problem is when people say “Well, you know, I don’t want to do it. I’ve researched it and I think it’s awful, and if it was only up to me, I’d never ever do it. But my marriage is more important than this one issue, so we’re going to do it anyway.”

I have no understanding of this. None.

Let’s imagine a wee scenario. Your beautiful, perfect, brought-home-whole baby boy is whoosh - 32 years old! Wow, the time flies. He’s married and has a few kids of his own. One day, your husband comes home and seems a bit angry. You ask your now-middle-aged spouse what’s wrong. He says

“I want a divorce unless our son is circumcised. It’s the end of our marriage unless he gets cut, right now.”

It seems obviously absurd that a father would demand that an adult child mutilate their genitals to save the parents’ marriage. How is it different when your son is 32 hours old instead of 32 years? Yet women do this to their children. Knowing that it’s not medically beneficial to the child, that it causes more harm than good, that it removes the most sensitive parts of the penis.

Here’s another scenario. Well, more of a question, really. What parts of your daughter’s genitals does your husband get to have cut off? None? ‘You’re crazy’? Indeed. That is crazy. So is male circumcision.

Ladies, please consider the man involved. Not your husband, but the man your son will become. Let him decide if he wants to be circumcised. Having trouble convincing your husband now, even with all the facts at your disposal? Understandable. Say this earnestly, tearfully, cheerfully, whatever you think is best, until you’re blue in the face:

“I’m sorry. I just can’t let you do this to our baby.”

The end.

I know, I know. I have 4 other kids. I swear I have lots to do with them too! Even a post in the works about our latest adventures in origami. Soon.

But forgive me if you will yet another autism post.

Sigourney Weaver, Carrie-Ann Moss and Alan Rickman (oh but yes, my spinachy friends) are in a new movie called Snow Cake about an autistic woman, her neighbor and a stranger who enters their lives by terrible circumstance. It looks pretty good.

In exploring role, Sigourney Weaver finds her inner autism

It also comes as advocates for the autistic – including some autistic people themselves – are raising their voices in a plea for respect and acceptance.

Their message is similar to the point Weaver makes: that autism is part of the continuum of human neurology, not some separate category of existence. That it is, in essence, a difference rather than a disease, although its consequences for those affected and their families can be profound.

Finger-flick to Autism Diva

Tagged by Lydia.

Three things that bother me:

1. When someone has dropped the unopened cookie package and the cookies, cosmetically fine as far as the package goes, are all in shards.

2. Damn ants.

3. Humidity so high my bare feet stick to my clean wood floors.

Tagging whoever is feeling petty today.

Be Not Afraid is “an outreach site for parents with a poor prenatal diagnosis.” It is a beautiful and inspiring thing, with stories from parents who dealt with learning their children were ‘different’ prior to birth - from Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome) to spina bifida, to lesser-known diagnoses - and who chose not to end their childrens’ lives.

As of today, there is no prenatal test for autism. I sure hope they never make one.

via Kari.

I felt nauseated. I was sleepy. I was on day 34. Guess what that means?

Welcoming Gleeson #6 (holy cow!) to Oklahoma City January 2008!

Mom?

Mom? Are you okay?

Mom?

A beautiful and heartwarming essay in the NYT:

She left us, and I cradled Natalie, who was knocked out from seizure medicine. Her mouth was open, and I leaned down, breathing in her sweet breath that smelled like soy formula.

Would we ever be able to speak to each other? Would she tell me her secrets? Laugh with me?

Whatever the case, I would love her and she would know it. And that would have to be enough.

Read it here, but have a Kleenex handy.

Finger-flick to Finch.

All is well here, but I just don’t feel very posty. Fragmented.

New Jersey church holds special Masses for autistic parishioners and their families

“If Jesus did anything, he welcomed all types of people,” said the Very Rev. John R. O’Connell. “I think these people who are differently abled or disabled have been pushed to the fringes of society for too long.”

O’Connell said that having the special Mass means families can worship without worrying that their children’s behavior will disturb parishioners.

“If a kid jumps up and screams, it’s not a problem with me,” O’Connell said. “I expect it’s going to happen. This is not my house — this is God’s house and I’m just the custodian.”

Hat tip - or in our case, finger-flick - to AutismVox.

Autismshop.com

Looks nifty; bookmarking for later perusal.

Our YouTube debut!

Bede reading.

Notice his hand motions at the beginning - he does that all the time when he talks. We call it his signifyin’.

Not the best video ever, and the background noise is bad.

But I sure do love That Boy!