Very disturbing evening

[Sparks*]

I just babysat my neighbor's 18mo son and 8yo daughter.

Besides the fact that the big sister told me that the best way to comfort her brother is by letting him watch tv and not by holding or rocking him.

Besides the fact that they came fully equiped with McDonald's happy meals for dinner with soda...for both of them

Besides many many other things

What most upset me by a long shot was changing this poor baby's diaper and seeing what I saw. I hadn't seen a circ'd infant penis in so long, I had forgotten how utterly gruesome it is. Just a complete hack job

Sorry for the mini rant, I just knew the mamas here would understand.

[minkajane]

[Super Pickle]

I'm sorry you saw that. Once you get used to seeing intact boys, it is hard to see cut boys and think about what happened to them.

One thing that helps me cope when others' parenting choices make me sad is to remember that I don't know where those parents are coming from, and they may be doing the best they can. For example, maybe they went to bed hungry every night when they were little, or their parents fed them erratically, and so making sure that their children get three meals a day is important to them (even if it is a Happy Meal on a night when they are probably rushed because they are going out and hiring a sitter). Or maybe they were raised with the TV always turned to inappropriate adult shows, and so to them, keeping the TV/videos restricted to child-friendly quality programs is a big step.

I'm not trying to say that you're being unfair or judgemental, just sharing a way in which I deal with the fact that other parents don't care for their children the way I wish children would be cared for.

ETA: It was very generous of you to watch your neighbors' kids.

[Treece]

Originally Posted by Super Pickle

I'm sorry you saw that. Once you get used to seeing intact boys, it is hard to see cut boys and think about what happened to them.

One thing that helps me cope when others' parenting choices make me sad is to remember that I don't know where those parents are coming from, and they may be doing the best they can. For example, maybe they went to bed hungry every night when they were little, or their parents fed them erratically, and so making sure that their children get three meals a day is important to them (even if it is a Happy Meal on a night when they are probably rushed because they are going out and hiring a sitter). Or maybe they were raised with the TV always turned to inappropriate adult shows, and so to them, keeping the TV/videos restricted to child-friendly quality programs is a big step.

I'm not trying to say that you're being unfair or judgemental, just sharing a way in which I deal with the fact that other parents don't care for their children the way I wish children would be cared for.

ETA: It was very generous of you to watch your neighbors' kids.

I agree. It is really hard to judge others' parenting styles b.c we simply do not know where they are coming from. As far as circ is concerned, I just don't know why people don't research it. We can't claim ignorance like prior generations. We have all the information available. Or a heck of a lot more. I can't understand why a cosmetic surgery is more acceptable than not, but dp put into into perspective. He said "It's routine." Sad but true.