"Mom, what's circumcision?"  

My 11 yr old son just asked me that. : (just a little backstory, he is circ'd...I was 16 when he was born and my parents told me it had to be done, I didn't even know there was a choice in the matter. : )

Coincidently I was changing his little brother's diap (baby is intact ) when he asked me the question. My heart skipped a few beats, I breathed in deep, exhaled and very calmly explained to him what circ was. I told him that he was and that his baby brother is not. I explained to him why I had circ'd him and why I had not circ'd his brother. Ugh, talk about heartbreaking. :

He is a very sensitive, very intelligent boy and was/is outraged. I told him that I deeply regretted having it done to him and that I was sorry. He said he didn't blame me, he knows I'd never hurt him on purpose. He said how stupid circ is and that people who do it to little babies should be arrested and thrown in jail.

He asked if his foreskin is gone forever. I said that no, when he's an adult he can look into restoring it. He said "good, I can't wait, I don't want to look damaged all my life!" He talked to the baby and told him how lucky he was and told him that he had a perfect little penis. I feel bad that he feels "damaged"...that's not what I want him to think of himself, yk? But what do I say?

I've been waiting for this day to come since the baby was born and I made the decision to leave him intact. I knew that there would come a day when ds1 would question it. I choked back tears as I explained it to him but i think I did a good job. He's definitely an intactivist now though, that's for sure, so at least his sons' foreskins will be saved.

Thank you all so much for the replies. I've been a bit teary this afternoon about the whole thing too, regretting it all over again and feeling so sad for my ds. He really is a wonderful kid, a gift that I was given so young, and I am so lucky to have him. I tell him every day how lucky I am to be his mama.

Oh and thanks for the comments on my kiddos. : I think they're pretty cute too.

Blarg, thank you for your reply. I understand that his actual foreskin is gone forever and that restoring isn't going to bring it back but when he asked that question (one I didn't anticipate an 11 yr old asking!) I answered it the best I could. I actually showed him on his little brother what the foreskin is and told him the best I knew how what had been taken away (from him) and what restoring would do. I'm no expert so I'm sure what I told him wasn't entirely 100% accurate, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it, yk?

It was a very emotional conversation and with an 11 yr old who is just entering puberty and is full of questions anyway, quite an awkward one as well.

Thank you again to everyone who replied. It's so nice to get encouragement and support.