Do you smoke in your house?
By jessigirl116
@jessigirl116 (848)
United States
May 5, 2007 3:01pm CST
Do you smoke in your house or do you go outside? I didn't smoke inside until I moved back to Nebraska. My 2 kids were 1 & 3 when I moved in with the father of my youngest(that I hadn't gotten pregnant with yet). Then I didn't stop until 4 years ago when I moved into the house I live in now. In these last 4 yrs. I have seen a serious change in my kids health. I smoked during all 3 pregnancies, and around them after birth. They are now 9, 11, and 13. I was very lucky, they were all born on time and ideal weight. They exhibited no signs of withdrawl and their growing and learning levels are above average. Not that I'm condoning what I did, I am very thankful that they were born so perfect. My point is that I go outside no matter what the weather. It's better for them and I smoke less. I have to make the decision to put on my shoes or jacket or whatever, go get one and go outside. It takes me longer to get off my butt, then it takes to smoke. Try it for a week, see how you feel. My house doesn't stink(except for the dogs and kids), and we are all healthier for it.
6 people like this
17 responses
@KissThis (3003)
• United States
5 May 07
I personally have never smoked. However my daughter was born with a heart condition. Her doctor took the time to explain to me why people who smoke should do it outside. As well as people who smoke should change their clothing and wash their hands well before holding the baby. When my daughter was a baby I made everyone follow these rules. I also don't allow anyone to smoke with my children in the car either.
3 people like this
@jessigirl116 (848)
• United States
5 May 07
The car!!! I hadn't thought of that point. Yup, I also smoke in the car, but if my kids tell me they can smell it or it bothers them I put it out.
I hope your daughter is in good health now. Washing my hands and changing my shirt was always something I was aware of around babies and small ones. Brushing my teeth as well.
I am not a perfect parent, but I always try my best and do what I think is good for them.
1 person likes this
@jessigirl116 (848)
• United States
5 May 07
Yes it is, and good for you!! I have some friends down the street and we smoke in their house, but when another friend of ours comes down, we don't smoke inside. He is a non-smoker, so out of courtesy to him, we don't smoke. I'm trying to get my friends to smoke outside altogether, but they are lazy. I am lazy when I go down there, I don't go out to smoke. We had it once, where we were only smoking outside, but they kept coming up with reasons to smoke inside. So we just slipped back into it. But, with the weather getting better and warmer, I'm going to try to get them to go back out.
1 person likes this
@jessigirl116 (848)
• United States
14 May 07
Some people, like my friends, need an extra-giant push.
@jessigirl116 (848)
• United States
10 May 07
When I smoked in the house I tried to stay away from the kids. I only smoked in my room (where they weren't allowed) with an out-blowing fan in the window, or in the kitchen under the oven fan. Not that I'm condoning my behavior, I carry alot of guilt. But, on the bright side, I've changed my ways. My friends down the street go through periods of smoking outside. They get their house all cleaned up and smelling fresh, with the exception of the inside animals, and then they find a reason to smoke inside. They only smoke in their room, but I keep telling them that it doesn't help. Now that we have good weather, I'm going to make them. Sometimes we need a little push.
@PurpleTeddyBear (6685)
• Canada
6 May 07
Hi jessigirl.
I recently quit smoking about 2 1/2 months ago. When I did smoke though I never did it in the house as I have a duaghter and felt it would be unfair to give her second hand smoke. When I found out I was pregnant with her I quit too, but her colic was so bad and stressed me so bad I started up again. I quit in March though and am still smoke free!
1 person likes this
@jessigirl116 (848)
• United States
10 May 07
I understand colic, and if I didn't smoke, it would have driven me to drink. Ha! I commend you on your strength. Keep it up, you're daughter will thank you for it.
1 person likes this
@dixits (104)
• India
6 May 07
actually i dont smoke then also i would like to reply because if u smoke inside he house and if someone is having allergy then he would not able to breathe and he would start coughing and it is important that girls should not smoke anywhere because they will face problems during or after pregnancy.
1 person likes this
@jessigirl116 (848)
• United States
10 May 07
Are you saying girls shouldn't smoke at all? But it's okay for guys to? I truly hope not. Anyway, back to your comment. My ex-mom-in-law is allergic to smoke but nobody knew for alot of years. We smoked in her house until one day she came home from the doctors and announced that it was no longer allowed. No one had a problem with that, except her husband. He figured he didn't have to because it was his house too. There is a difference between not knowing about the allergy and not caring.
@ritwikghoshal (405)
• India
12 May 07
ya i do smoke at my house. i know i should not do it... bur still.. i can't change my habit.
1 person likes this
@jessigirl116 (848)
• United States
14 May 07
Honey, it's easy. Let me help. Take a comfy chair and an ashtray and go outside. Find the perfect spot for yourself and make camp. If that's too much, just take a smoke and a tray and go sit on your step. Do it for a couple days and if there is no difference, resume smoking wherever you want. But please, don't ever say you can't change something as simple as standing outside for about 7 minutes at a time, a few times a day.
@Destiny007 (5805)
• United States
6 May 07
I smoke in the house and always have.
My son is grown and gone, and I am disabled and housebound so I do my smoking inside.
Also, since we rent we make sure that wherever we live allows smoking, otherwise we won't live there.
1 person likes this
@jessigirl116 (848)
• United States
10 May 07
I definitely think that it should be your choice, and since your son is grown and out of the house, carry on. If you're not hurting anyone, there is no complaint from me. I also have only chosen housing that allowed smoking, reguardless of if I smoke inside or not.
@samtaylorskykierajen (7977)
• Canada
6 May 07
We seem to go through stages where we will smoke only outside and then go through phases where no one will go out to smoke . Right now we are smoking in the house but in the porch where the door is closed all the time and the window is open and the children don't have to go out this way as there is another door .
I agree that it is not healthy but when I feel one way my husband doesn't agree with me or vice versa . We can't seem to be on the same page when it comes to smoking . I would love to be able to quit and keep trying but to no avail yet . I am going to try having acupuncture done to see if this will help as they have just started this in our area and I figure it won't hurt any to try . I hope this time I acutally succeed as it is unhealthy for my children .
1 person likes this
@jessigirl116 (848)
• United States
10 May 07
My neighbor across the street used hypnosis to quit. Also, my friends down the street can't decide if they want to go out or stay in. They go by the weather or whatever excuse sounds good so they don't have to get up. Take my advice, go outside. If your husband doesn't want to, fine. Then do it on your own. Don't let him dictate your choices, and I'm not saying he is. If you have friends that smoke in your house, take them out with you. If your husband doesn't want to go out, get the kids to spur him out. He knows it's more healthy, but men are stubborn, just like women.
@traceyleeappel (510)
• Australia
6 May 07
No we do smoke in our house , we made a golden rule when we bought this house that we do not smoke in it ! We had smoke in our previous house and it stinks so much now to walk into a smokers house who has been smoking in their house !! It is mush healthier for our children too !!
@jessigirl116 (848)
• United States
10 May 07
I definitely notice the difference between my house and my friends house. Now if I could just quit dogs. Ha-ha-ha. Now my house smells like dirty dogs. With 3 kids and 3 dogs, I am glad my house smells like them, it's healthier for everyone envolved.
@Gemmygirl1 (2867)
• Australia
6 May 07
I am just like you, i cut right back on my smoking while i was pregnant, my daughter was above weight & very healthy, thankfully & although it is not the best thing to do while pregnant, it isn't really for anyone else to comment!
I have never smoked in the house we're in now - which has been about 3 years now & i bought a car new so it has never ben smoked in either.
I don't ever smoke around my daughter & since we don't smoke in the house, i don't allow anyone else to smoke in the house either. We have a table & chair set outside with an ashtray for smoking.
Everyone said we wouldn't be able to smoke outside permanently but we have proven them wrong - the house smells a LOT better & my daughter doesn't have to put up wth the yukky smells or smoke intake that she would have other wise!
@jessigirl116 (848)
• United States
10 May 07
Good for you!! You have done the 'right' thing for your daughter, that's for sure. It certainly is better for your daughter that she not be introduced to the hazards. I feel that smoking is our choice and when we fill our childrens spaces with the toxins, we are choosing for them. We should choose a healthy environment, they would.
@serena_wai (970)
• Malaysia
5 May 07
My family do smoke inside the house and honestly I do like the idea of smoking inside the house. I prefer to have a small coffee table and two chair outside so that my guest and family could enjoy smoking outside the house but not generated unwanted ashes and air pollution inside the house. Sorry, this is just my opinion.
@jessigirl116 (848)
• United States
10 May 07
It's my opinion as well. Some people enjoy smoking, so more power to them. I'm not so sure I enjoy it as much as I am chained to it. Not smoking is easy when I have to go out to do it.
@andyvish (901)
• India
6 May 07
Now i dont smoke. I left it two years before and I am strong about it.
The first step I took towards quitting smoking was to promise myself that I will not smoke inside the house, in the vicinity of my house, in front of any of our family members and relatives and in front of any of my friends.
This promise worked wonders when I kept to it. This helped me to reduce smoking. Just before quitting I could manage only one or two with all the pomises I made.
Then on a fine morning I quit smoking and I never turned to look back.
1 person likes this
@jessigirl116 (848)
• United States
10 May 07
Good for you!!! I think I will make myself some notes about your comment. I will try to remember what you said about the promises. I already have a thing about smoking around certain family members, like my grandparents. I am going to give it a good effort and remind myself of the promise I made to the kids. I did promise them I would quit, now I should keep it. I have plenty of support, now I just need something to occupy my time, and my hands.........
@tictactams (135)
• Australia
6 May 07
i have never smoked inside my house or my car well i do smoke in my car if my kids are not in it with the windows down and dont use the ash tray i smoked thro all five of my pregancy and all kids are fine i dont smoke near my kids i go out side away from the kids to do it i try not to let them see as i dont want them to do it tell me whats your secret i try many times to quit but dont succeed
@jessigirl116 (848)
• United States
10 May 07
Quit what?? I haven't quit smoking, I quit smoking in the house. My kids are always telling me to quit. I tell them how hard it is and how unhealthy and gross it is. I don't use the usual 'don't do this or that' mom approach, I'm straight up with them about smoking. I don't think they will, but you never know. They will if they choose, no matter what we say.
@henry_gale (29)
• Hong Kong
6 May 07
When you smoke outside, it is not only good to your family's health. Parents are models to their children. If you don't want your children to be smokers, you better smoke outside everytime.
My relatives and friends or my mom never smoke before children. I think this is good to children, both to their health and future development.
1 person likes this
@jessigirl116 (848)
• United States
10 May 07
I totally agree. Children learn what they live. My kids have asked all the questions about why I do it, what the consequences are, how I got started. I am brutally honest with them. I don't just say 'it's bad for you', I explain what I mean. They know I think it's stupid and they know why I can't just quit. They don't like they way I smell after I come inside. They don't like the smoke, it makes them cough. I think I've done my part in showing them the dark side of smoking. We shall see.
@manzician (4727)
• India
6 May 07
Well... I have never smoked in my life though, however if I would have smoked, I would have never done it in my house....
@jessigirl116 (848)
• United States
10 May 07
Everyone knows not to smoke in my house. I have a sign that says 'If you're smoking in here, you'd better be on fire'!!!!
