Did your Mother ever suggest an enema, but leave the decision to you?

Only once. She offered to help. I said no. My forever mistake.

Once mom determined that I needed an enema because I hadn’t pooped in several days, she may have phrased it as a question: “ Do I need to give you some water to help you poop?” The only acceptable answer was OK, because I was getting an enema anyway. But I didn’t really mind because I had already realized that I liked those enemas.

@JSChallenger, you need to take the years these enemas occurred into account. I suspect the vast majority of these enemas were given by mothers during an era when enemas were commonly given for constipation or other tummy issues, and were often “prescribed” by physicians. This doesn’t rise to the definition of “child cruelty” IMO.

You appear to have strongly negative opinions about enemas. Perhaps you should avoid the “Enema Discussion” area of Zity in the future.

- sorry for my input, but in my opinion many comment's given here are the result of " phantasies " !! - every time when reading of the administration of enemas given to innocent young child's, i have the urge to vomit - specially when mother's, aunt's or grandmother's are involved !! - i would also think, that these was not a form of " health - caring ", maybe more an unnecessary Intervention in the live of young people !!

The only time the subject of enemas came up between my mother and I was when I stayed home from school one day. I had a fever, cramps, general lethargy. Mom called the doctor and he suggested an enema. My mother did not know that I was already using the enema equipment occcasionally. She handed me the box with the bag and equipment and asked if I knew how to use it. I answered in the affirmative and she said go ahead and do it. After handing off the equipment she went back to whatever she was doing in the main part of the house. I gave myself several rather thorough enemas that afternoon. She never asked me how I knew about enemas.

When I was a bit older I suppose it was presented as more of an option.

@jofesig: You seem to be very stressed out; would you like me to give you a nice, warm, soapy enema?

There's that expression again! Just like my mom would say "a nice, warm, soapy enema," an expression that was also matched with "a good cleaning out." I'm starting to think that the home nursing books of the era all contained statements that the women students had to memorize. My mom had to have been an honor graduate.