My DD is 7, and IMO a 'young' 7. She's still pretty innocent and got her head in the clouds most of the time. She is bright and curious and keeps me on my toes. Me and her dad split just before she turned 3, and while he's not what you could call a model dad, he loves DD, she loves him, and when they spend time together, they both enjoy it.
Me and ex don't see eye to eye on parenting - we both have very different views and past experience and this is something that has caused niggles between us in the past. I usually get my point across and eventually ex does see where I'm coming from so, although he pushes the limits at times, overall I've not had too many worries ignoring the fact he let DD watch family guy when she was 5.
Now, over the recent past, probably about 6/8 months, DD has been very curious about babies, how you get a baby, how it's born etc. I've tried to keep things basic, and age appropriate, and I felt, succeeded in getting the right amount of information across to satisfy DD's curiosity but not too much, or graphic as I felt DD wasn't really old enough for that. I thought my ex agreed with me. I showed him a couple of books I'd bought to help DD understand the basics, and he found them highly amusing. I thought no more on the issue.
DD has made a few comments recently that she doesn't want to have a baby. Not really something to worry about in itself but as this was a change in that she had previously been very keen that she would have a baby (not now but she's no concept of time/how old she would need to be to even think about all that stuff) I've been wondering what has prompted the change of opinion. I don't agree or disagree, as with most ideas she comes up with, so not encouraging these thoughts, but not really discouraging them, just listening as she tries to figure this stuff out, and correcting where it's needed iyswim.
Anyway, to the point! DD has completely changed her views on future parenthood, as a result of ex letting her watch footage of an actual birth. Seems it's some science programme all about birth but from what I can gather, it was as graphic as you would expect given her description of it. I'm just not comfortable with the fact ex has let DD watch this. I don't think it's necessary for her to know that much or see it as graphic. I think the thing that is bothering me most is that she seems really upset/disturbed by what she's seen, and keeps talking about how she doesn't want to have a baby because it's painful. On the one hand, the fear of childbirth could save me a lot of worry through her teenage years if she's that scarred by what she's seen, she'll never let a boy near her but on the other, I just don't think the level of information, and the graphic nature of what she's been show, is appropriate at all. Obviously I can't do anything about it now, but I just don't know if I'm being a bit PFB over this, or if ex has taken the subject of babies and the level of information/knowledge just too far for our DD.
So, are my feelings here off, or is showing a 'young' 7 yr old graphic warts-and-all footage of a live birth just too much, too young?
Thoughts?