teens & smoking

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-04-2002
teens & smoking
33
Thu, 04-27-2006 - 6:55pm
If you know your teen is smoking under the age of 18, do you forbid them to smoke, or just give permission & rather he/she does it in front of you then behind your back ?
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2004
Sat, 04-29-2006 - 12:21pm

NO..

Smoking is an addiction and,with any addiction, it depends on a person's chemical makeup.

QUIT SMOKING. Go to your doctor. Do everything in your power to quit. Get on the patch. Chew gum. Go to a support group but QUIT SMOKING

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-29-2005
Sat, 04-29-2006 - 12:54pm
This is a very interesting topic. I am posting a poll below and would appreciate everyone's response. I am really interested in this. Betty

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-1999
Sat, 04-29-2006 - 1:18pm

As I say to all ardent anti-smokers...


Have you ever smoked?


Have you ever TRIED to quit?


Unless the answers to both of the above are yes, I don't want to hear it.

Avatar for imomtojd
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 04-29-2006 - 1:19pm

"there are bigger battles than smoking cigarettes"

I completely respect your opinion for you, but IMHO there are very few bigger battles than smoking cigarettes. There are soooo many reasons why I would fight this one with all I have available. I would stop giving allowance - they would not be bought with my money. My child could never smoke around me or my property and they would have to change clothes in the garage before they entered the house. I will not allow my child to kill himself on my watch.

Lisa

Avatar for imomtojd
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 04-29-2006 - 1:28pm

"As I say to all ardent anti-smokers...

Have you ever smoked?

Have you ever TRIED to quit?

Unless the answers to both of the above are yes, I don't want to hear it. There are too many around these days who don't get it, who've never gotten it, and who choose to never figure it out."

YES and YES. I started smoking before the cigarette companies had to come clean. Obviously we knew that it wasn't great for your health but the facts weren't out yet. My DH and I decided that we HAD to quit before we tried to have children and we did it cold turkey. Yes, it was VERY hard. Our lives were planned around smoking for so long - but boy was it worth it.

Lisa

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-07-2005
Sat, 04-29-2006 - 2:27pm

Oh please. Someone who smokes a couple of cigs a day on a rare day is hardly addicted. And I don't need you blasting me because I chose to respond to another poster.

Get off your soapbox.

zz

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 04-29-2006 - 2:51pm

My now 21 yr old smoked around 17/18-I found out way into the process-dont know how I missed the smell but I did.

He has since stopped-just decided he didnt want to waste his money on it anymore

DH has smoked on and off throughout our marriage; he always takes it outside. He is into cigars right now and I despise the mouth odor-ughhh.

I suspect DS2 has tried but I havent actually caught him

I have preached but ultimately I think they have to decide for themselves

If I suspected they were doing so at 13ish, I probably would have had a cow but my kids just arent the ones who do things early(thank goodness for late bloomers-it makes so much easier to swallow)

I dont find trying in 11th or 12th grade unbearable and I NEVER in a million years would have pegged my oldest to smoke. He was appalled-disgusted by the odor-the kid over reacted to the smell of just about anything-yet, he smoked for over a year once he hit that age

But no one smokes in the house and no, I wouldnt contribute funds

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-14-2000
Sat, 04-29-2006 - 3:58pm

Jason smoked for a couple months last year although we never found out til later.

Pam
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-20-2001
Sat, 04-29-2006 - 9:09pm

If teens are going to try to smoke they will find away. Taken away there allowance will not matter. Most likely they have friends who smoke and will share. Alot of times these kids have older friends who can get the cigs for them. Thinking that there are few bigger battles then smokeing probably you haven't had a teen that has had more battles then your average teen. Allowing my son to smoke at home out doors kept him from sneaking around the mall or in public were it is not acceptable. I can understand parents not allowing this in their home especially if you never smoked. When my son was little couldn't stand the smell of smoke I always stressed I didn't want my kids to pick up the habit. I don't know why one did and one didn't. One poster stated to get the patch or go to the doctors for help. Can't get the kids help unless they want it. The patch only works if you truly want to quit. Most teens don't truly want to quit once they have started.

melisd

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2004
Sat, 04-29-2006 - 9:55pm

Don't be so sure. We get it. Some of us know that if we started smoking, we would be addicted too. Some of us have watched love ones die a needless death.

We know how difficult it is to quit but we also know that it is so important to do so.
I know that it is easier said than done but I would hate to read that "bunnerose"
is sick from lung cancer or breast cancer too. Your life is too precious.