what is best?

So as I am sitting here tonight I have stumbled upon many posts on a popular social networking site in regards to parenting.

When I was pregnant I read the usual books in regards to what to expect or what the most common practices are when raising children. However, now it seems like every time I make a decision or choice there is always someone there to tell me how I am a horrible parent. If I vaccinate my child against potentially fatal disease then I am pumping deadly chemicals into her, and if I raised her correctly in the first place she would have natural immunity against every disease. If I do not vaccinate my child, then I am an idiot who is willing to expose my child to diseases and contribute to the spread of those diseases and illnesses that have almost been wiped out in our country.

What's a mom to do?

I can honestly say I am so thankful my little grumpo is a girl. I never realized the whole circumcision/non-circumcision debate in the country, or just with in the area I live in. I assumed it was just the standard practice that all boys go through with in days of their birth, and that it should only not be done if there is medical or religious preference against it. I have now been informed that if I were to make the decision to circumcise my son then I would taking away his manhood and mutilating his body, as well as the fact that he could sue me later in life for abuse. Hmmm. I asked my husband what his thoughts were. He said he is happy with who he is and that he doesn't think his manhood was taken away and is happy that he doesn't have to deal with the negative effects of not being circumcised.


The last thing that I was made aware of fairly soon after delivery was breastfeeding. Now I do breastfeed, but my daughter had jaundice when she was born and we were told to supplement formula in order to help get over the condition sooner. I know breast milk is best, and I was very upset at the time when I was told I needed to supplement. I had been told by several people that I should not supplement, that I should just breastfeed. How formula would kill my child because of the chemicals in it and anyone who feeds formula is a bad mother. A question popped into my head at this point. What if I couldn't produce enough breast milk or what if I had a medical condition that didn't allow me to breastfeed? Would I still be a bad parent because I HAD to use formula? The answer I received was yes. I was supposed to find a donor or go to a "milk bank". Well considering certain medications, drugs, and alcohol can be passed through breast milk, how could I fully trust that the breast milk I received is safe??

The question is 'what is best?' based on all the differing opinions out there who really knows. I know that whatever decision I make, it will be made out of love and what I feel is the safest and best thing for my child. So far I vaccinate and breastfeed...and like I stated before due to the fact I have a daughter the circumcision factor hasn't come into play. I honestly don't know what I would do if I had a son. But if I do choose to do one or the other it is out of love and not just following the crowd.