On both of my pregnancies, I just kind of got a notion I was pregnant – and ended up – both times – taking a very impromptu test in my office toilets, all by myself.
However, was I to fall pregnant again now, I would have no issue involving my now 10-year-old in the test-taking, being of the opinion that we are a family that is very open about all body related matters – and knowing I would want her to feel like pregnancy and reproductive health are both perfectly normal things that women – and girls – need to know about and should feel no shame in discussing.
Now everyone agrees on this subject, though.
One dad recently took to
Reddit to share that he was furious as his wife had recently taken a pregnancy test in front of their 10-year-old daughter – but he was of the opinion that the girl was much too young to be involved in something like this.
"I let her know that I thought this was bad parenting. Our 10-year-old is still too young to be exposed to things like that."
He writes:
"My wife had already taken one test and gotten a faint positive," he shared on
Reddit.
"She was fairly sure she was pregnant because of that and the symptoms she'd been experiencing, so when she tested a few days later she asked our daughter if she wanted to do it with her. Our daughter did, so they took the test together."
This did not go down well with the dad, it seems.
“I let my wife know that I thought this was bad parenting," he continued. "Our daughter is still too young to be exposed to things like that and certainly up close. There was no reason or justification for it."
“And even if it was a thing, it would still be wrong in my view," he added. But David’s wife didn’t agree with his view saying it was a “bonding experience”.
"She felt it was a "bonding" experience and an opportunity for her and our daughter to talk more about their bodies and educate her more on pregnancy and the reproductive system," he added.
But despite the father's annoyance about his wife's actions, many Redditors took his wife’s side. "You do realise your daughter could start her period any day now? Or any time in the next two years?" one wrote. "And all your wife did was pee on a stick and talk about hormones and fertility cycles (I'm betting). Ten is not too young. My oldest started 'sex ed' and puberty talks at 10 in school."
"I'm not sure any man, even the father, should try to criticise a mother for teaching her daughter about things related to reproduction," said one more.
"Yes you do have a say in how you raise your child but your wife made this amazing thing into a learning experience which is great parenting," another added.
What do YOU think? Would you ever take a pregnancy test in front of your child/tween? Let us know in the comments or tweet us at @herfamilydotie
