Been a Long Time

It has been an incredibly long time since I have last posted. With good reasons, I assure you. We've moved and we've had two new additions to the family.

A lot has happend in the last couple of years. My parents have a total of three new grandchildren. Two of which are not frum and may never be frum and one that is their golden child, their 'official' true and first grandchild due to being born a son to their only son.

In any case; I am back for now. Not sure how often I will have time to blog but I will see.

I'd like to recap some interesting things that had occured while I was pregnant.

My father called me and asked if I would consider having a Bris if I had a boy. He said he would pay for it all, that he would fly in the Rabbi, the Moel, the ten people, whatever. He said I only had to give the word and it would all be taken care of.

Wow. Flabberghasted I was.

I mean, seriously!? Seriously?

So the hubby and I had discussed our feelings on circumcision. We had decided that if we had a boy, that yes, we would do so. HOWEVER, and this is a big however, we did not want to do so in the Jewish manner of a Bris. We were doing it for health reasons. It was our personal decision. Our decision and no one elses.

I had explained to my father that we would be having a circumcision done at the hospital when the doctor felt it was safe enough to do so, IF we had a boy. I explained that I wanted to allow my children the choice of whether to become a Jew or not. I did not want to convert them. I wanted it to be their choice. Not mine, not my husbands, not my fathers, not a Rabbi's choice. Theirs. I was not going to steal that from them.

Just as we would not be baptising our child, we would not be doing a Bris.

I would simply be telling the child's other, non-Jewish, grandparents that they could plan on a baptisim if I were Okaying a Bris. And that is not what we want to set precedent for.

We want to raise our children to be open-minded. To ask questions, to explore the world around them, to learn about different cultures and different religions. We want them to be aware of what is out there. And if asked, we (husband and I) will explain our beliefs, our views, our spiritual stands. However, in no way do we want to sway them and their beliefs and in no way would I hide them from my Jewish background. They are free to explore and be exposed to it. They are free to visit my Orthodox family and I will teach them to respect their ways. However, I will not insist they convert or be something that they do not yet fully understand and can truly commit too.

If they wish to one day become a full pledged Jew, then so be it. My son can pull down his pants in front of the Rabbi's and let them prick his private and be a Jew. (Yes, that is what they do if you are already circumcised and wish to convert and never had a Bris.) But that will be their choice and my only hope is that they choose wisely after much research and understanding.

I will respect my children's way of life. I only ask that I be respected in mine. I hope I can instill this in my children.

Lucky for us, we have only girls so the whole near-argument bit with my father was avoided.

There were more interesting things that came up with my family during my absence here and I am sure I will recap when I can. For now, it is good to be back!