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Topic of the day: smoking
If you caught your kid smoking or attempting to smoke what would you do?
This really hits home recently because FIL was a smoker for years and most of his issues were throat/tongue cancer and eventually lung (pneumonia and oxygen) related. My 10-year old neice tried to smoke a couple days ago. I was disgusted at my sister (and really at my dad too). She and her whole whatever she has living with her all smoke (same as my dad) and I believe they do inside the house with the kids. It just grosses me out. I have friends that smoke. They go outside to do it and don't smell like an ashtray.
If I caught my kids smoking I would be disappointed. I would like them to see the effects of smoking. The cancer. The hard time breathing. The smell. The addiction. Once they are adults, I would let them know what I thought, but they're adults, not much I could do other than support them to try to quit.
Re: Topic of the day: smoking
I would be furious if I caught any of my kids smoking. I'm very anti-smoking. I am honestly appalled when people smoke in their houses with kids and I FREAK when parents do it in their cars with kids. My parents smoked when I was younger (never in the house) and both quit before I started school. I guess my thing is that by doing it around your kids, you give them easier access to getting them, playing with them, etc. Plus, what kind of example is that for kids? It's not like guns where you can at least teach them gun safety and lock them away---there is nothing to teach them but that it's a terrible and deadly habit (smoking).
Well I grew up with my dad being a smoker and tried it several times when I was home alone and just didn't like it. Then my dad quit when I was older and before he died, still decided not to enjoy a few....he loved his smokes (his cancer was not related to smoking)!
With my stepkids, I know they see their mom socially smoke because they have made comments on it so I think there is a chance if either of them smoke it will be in that type of setting. If I caught them I would tell them and show them the side effects and then I would talk to them about the costs of cigs and what they could buy instead with the money (ie. fashion for my sd).
If I saw Sawyer smoke, I would just sit him down and show him graphic pictures of what it does to a person, tell him who in our family died from cigarettes and pretty much tell him if I ever find him smoking, I will kill him because cigarettes kill.
DH smoked every now and then when we were dating and I knew right away. Now he does enjoy a cigar from time to time and that doesn't bother me as much and if the kids when they are adults want to enjoy a cigar, that would be okay with me.
This is my experience exactly, and my feelings. I would be disappointed and disgusted. My parents both smoked, but quit when I was very young. I didn't have to grow up around it and it oddly never played a part in my social life either so it never appealed to me. I hope my kids can say the same and I don't have to deal with this.
thanks to jennied
It's hard telling what I will say/do if it ever happens - and I expect it will; it's fairly normal behavior, right?
I think all anyone can do is be a positive role model and talk about things as they arise.
I "smoked" when I was a teenager and have social smoked as an adult (while drinking, typically). I knew the effects but it never stopped me. I mean, especially these days, everyone knows how awful it is for one's health, but it doesn't stop many. There's only so much one can control.
I hope to instill the utter disgust I have for that habit into her so that she feels the same way and never tries it (I've never tried it). Otherwise if I find out she smoking I will beat her silly and make her life miserable.
This is just one of those things I have a hard time letting go of. Mainly bc of dh's parents.
Ugh, I feel your pain. This is DH's 3rd time quitting. Two relapses due to miscarriage and one relapse due to job loss. I'm proud of him for quitting cold turkey, it's been very hard on him. I would be so upset if the kids picked up the habit (I used to freak out when I coudl smell it in the garage if he was smoking with the garage door up on the driveway).