Ok or Selfish?
@BellasmamaTiff (2544)
United States
November 26, 2006 9:56pm CST
Do you think that we as parents should have the option to choose wether or not people smoke around our infants and children? Should we have the option of smoking around our kids? I mean my friends ask me all the time, like when we go to their houses or are in their cars, "is it ok if I smoke with her in here?" and I feel that its selfish for us as parents to EVER smoke around our children, or allow others to. Why should we be able to make the decision to contaminate our children's lungs, or to allow other people to do so? What do you think?
7 people like this
33 responses
@sillygirlsd (959)
• United States
28 Nov 06
I would never ever smoke by any child. It's different when you are indoors....i mean the smoke doesn't go anywhere and the kids are breathing it. If you are outside you can step away from the kids or have the kids move away. I've seen people smoking in cars while having children in the backseat! Your killing your children! People that ask you if it's okay to smoke near your children are being so inconsiderate!!! they should wait or tell you to pull over to smoke so the children won't be breathing it! and If you allow someone to smoke by your kids then your also at fault!
1 person likes this
@BellasmamaTiff (2544)
• United States
28 Nov 06
Mydragonfly, I would have given you best response, but you didn't start your own reply! Next time, go to respond to this discussion...Thanks for your awesome response though!
@mydragonfly71 (84)
• United States
28 Nov 06
This is an Ethics question. One has to decide if it's worth polluting their child's (or any child for that matter) lungs and the long term effects second hand smoke has on lungs that aren't adult yet. I have a child with a heart condition. I also have a perfectly healthy child. As a conscientious decision, I did not smoke while I was pregnant, nor do I smoke around my children. It's not my right - or anyone else's - to jeopardize their health. If they want to smoke... they can go outside or in the garage. If I'm at their house, I politely ask them before hand if they would refrain from smoking around my kids. If they don't, then I just don't bring my kids to their homes. I would rather do that than lose a friendship over something that I take seriously.
As parents, we all have the DUTY to protect our children from harm. Smoking (whether we engage in it or not) causes harm - both short term and long term. If we take the "I don't care" attitude with our kids, what values are we instilling in them?
1 person likes this
@chiquita1977 (1706)
• United States
27 Nov 06
I AM A PARENT AND I DO NOT SMOKE AROUND MY KIDS AND I DO NOT ALLOW OTHER PEOPLE TO EITHER I DONT WANT TO EXPOSE THEM TO SMOKE BECAUSE IT CAUSES ASTHMA AND OTHER HEALTH PROBLEMS
1 person likes this
@BellasmamaTiff (2544)
• United States
27 Nov 06
Very good! Maybe more parents will take our example!
@euniceeleanor (5966)
• Singapore
27 Nov 06
I dont think it's good to be smoking when there are children around. I will not smoke in the presence of children...i dont want them to think that it's cool to smoke. it's a very bad habit that i'm trying to get rid of.
@BellasmamaTiff (2544)
• United States
27 Nov 06
I don't worry about the whole image thing as much as I do my daughter's health. I too am a smoker, but NEVER around my child. I don't feel thats my choice.
@BellasmamaTiff (2544)
• United States
27 Nov 06
I am a smoker as well, but, would never smoke around my child. Nothing to do with bad habits, more about health issues.
@Desdemona (1301)
• Canada
27 Nov 06
Regardless if the parents smoke or not, I would not smoke around children.
I am a smoker, but I don't want to influence my bad habits to the innocent.
1 person likes this
@Sissygrl (10912)
• Canada
17 Jan 07
I myself do not smoke. i smoked before i got pregnant and i quit when i was trying to get pregnent. i think if we as parents make the effort to be smoke free then wouldnt it be defeating the purpose if we let other people smoke around our children? i say BE selfish if you think it is. Dont feel guilty for telling people NO its not alright for you to fill my kids lungs with dirty poisonous smoke. They can go outside to smoke!
1 person likes this
@toonatoons (3737)
• Philippines
17 Jan 07
well, for me, smoking is a definite no-no, especially if it's in a public place. you are not being selfish, actually, i feel that the one smoking is the one who is so insensitive as to smoke in public, knowing full well that health hazards of secondary smoking.
@lilttownmommie (1473)
• United States
17 Jan 07
I think that all parents have the option to chose if they want to subject their children to long term health risks, and some may choose to that is their selfish decision, however I myself chose to keep my children away from smoke and ask other to not smoke around them.
@courtlynne77 (4839)
• United States
1 Dec 06
I think as parents we have a responsibility to NOT smoke around our children and to protect our children from others smoking around them. I am a former smoker, I quit when I became pregnant and never wanted to smoke again. I do not like smoke around my children, but I am not a confrontational person. I understand that adults have the right to smoke if they choose. I would never ask someone to get away from my children with their smoke, but I will go out of my way to move them from harms way.
@courtlynne77 (4839)
• United States
1 Dec 06
Also I meant to add earlier a lot of people think that not smoking around a child is enough, but if you bring your child into a smoking home it does not matter if they light up or not, the harmful chemicals are in every fabric in the house and also in the heating and air system. Harmful chemicals also cling to clothing and can be unhealthy for children.
@sexysilver (928)
• United States
8 Dec 06
I used to smoke (I quit the day before Thanksgiving when I found out I'm pregnant). And I don't allow people to smoke around me or my babies. Of course this causes problems with me & my STUPID husband. he thinks its ok & I don't.
@sexysilver (928)
• United States
8 Dec 06
Ok, he's not really stupid, but he does make poor decisions.
@Pekachu (1112)
• United States
17 Jan 07
well i think we should and do have the right to decide and if we are responsible we will opt to not smoke around our children we have the right to get up and leave when someone is smoking some states are now making it illegal to smoke in a car while there is a child in the car i think that is wonderful dont you?
@payingforschool (678)
• Canada
17 Jan 07
I wouldn't think it was selfish of me to ask someone who was ingesting arsenic to not give it to my child .... so no, I don't think it is selfish to ask someone who is poisoning themselves to NOT poison my child in the process. I think this was mroe of an issue when the research was less clear on the harmful effects of second hand smoke - but the research is black and white, clear, and proven now. I woudl not remain friends with someone who asked if they could smok around my infant - especially in a claosed car.
@euniceeleanor (5966)
• Singapore
16 Dec 06
i always think that it's not right to be smoking in front of children, not because it could contaminate their lungs, but they will think that it's ok to smoke as well. and i believe that others do not smoke too...whether they feel that it's selfish/rude, it's not good to be smoking in front of them.
@coolcatzz (1587)
• Canada
17 Jan 07
Absolutely! This is a baby who can not speak up for themselves and you are their mother. Nobody should be smoking around them. Not even once. That is unexceptable and your friends should know better.
@jess_meow (229)
• United States
21 Dec 06
Children rely on their parents to protect them from bad people, so why not bad chemicals? Second hand smoke can cause all sorts of problems such as asthma, lung cancer, and even the simple things like cold and flu. A parent should realize that their children are counting on them to do what is right and keep them safe from harm.
@trouble4u2avoid (2915)
• United States
17 Jan 07
I am a smoker too! I never smoke around my kids or even inside the house. Visitors don't have an option. They can smoke outside.
