Parents who smoke around their kids......
By briennekb
@briennekb (610)
United States
January 12, 2007 3:53am CST
Okay, I want to know what everyone would do in the following situation. Let's say you have a neighbor who smokes cigarettes and has at least one asthmatic child. What would you do? Would you say something to the parents about smoking around a asthmatic child, or do you say nothing and mind your own business?
I am currently faced with a similar situation, and I am not sure of what I should do. On one hand, it will only hurt the child more if I say nothing. But on the other hand, I could start a major conflict if I stick my nose in.
I have thought about sending anonymous hints to them. Like a flier that talks about second hand smoke and asthma. What does everyone think?
1 person likes this
6 responses
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
12 Jan 07
Personally? Keep your nose out of it. You won't do anyone any good and if anything you'll just alienate your neighbor. Sending the fliers will just aggravate her because she'll know someone is sending them and if you put them in her box without it going through the mail you are violating federal law.
Also you don't know what the situation is over there or about the asthma the child has. I've known many people with asthma that smoke doesn't bother but get them around pet dander and forget it. It all depends on the person. You also don't know if she limites her smoking to one area and everyone in the house knows this.
There are many unknowns in the situation and even if you did know them all it's still not your business. She is doing something that is legal. You need to realize that what someone else does is not always your business and that you don't have the right to lecture,preach or scold others for something you find you don't like.
@briennekb (610)
• United States
13 Jan 07
It has nothing to do with controlling anyone around me. It's not like I'm going to go up to them and say "Quit smoking or else!" And I realize there are other causes to asthma. But it is a proven fact that being around smoke while you are asthmatic, can and most likely will, make the situation worse. And I'm glad your daughter had two smoking parents and she know chooses not to smoke.
And I agree that there are many unknowns in the situation, which is why I am coming here for advice. And that is one of the reasons why I haven't done or said anything. I just feel bad for the small child who had asthma and is forced to be around 2nd hand smoke. I hate to see a mild case of asthma get seriously worse because of the actions of the childs parents.
@briennekb (610)
• United States
13 Jan 07
emeraldisle, i agree with many of the things you have just said. But I also agree with the flip side of it. I agree that I don't have the right to lecture, preach or scold. That not what I want to do. I want the parents to be more educated and sensitive to the fact that they have a child with asthma. I'm not trying to lecture. But to tell you the truth, why should people not saying anything? I can be "bad" by lecturing or I can watch a child get sicker. Shouldn't the childs well being be the most important thing here?
@sizzle3000 (3036)
• United States
12 Jan 07
The other thing is maybe the house has a clean air purifier in it. I have asthma myself and I have had to give up smoking. It was my choice to do so. My daughter is sixteen who grew up in a home with two smoking parents. She is perfectly healthy and she doesn't smoke either. There are many causes of Asthma and not all have anything to do with smoking. You are right to say that it is none of her business because she is not living in the house and don't know exactly what is going on in that home. People need to stop trying to control everyone around them.
2 people like this
@Opteron (1842)
• Italy
12 Jan 07
mmm I would tell him that smoking is a bad thing...and children don't like smoke because it will cause cancer easily. If they are ashmatic...risk is higher too! It's an healthy thing, you must talk to him and risk to start a conflict. I'm sure he will understand you are telling those things for his health and his children's health! He will understand
@briennekb (610)
• United States
13 Jan 07
I agree that smoking around your kids is bad. But I'm not so sure that they will understand my concern. I am sure they will just get upset because I'm sticking my nose in where it doesn't belong. That is my major dillema.
@briennekb (610)
• United States
13 Jan 07
Okay, so if you believe that we cannot sit around and say nothing, what would you do about it?
@briennekb (610)
• United States
13 Jan 07
And how do you keep the child away from smoking parents? They are noyt doing anything illegal. And I am definitely not suggesting that the child be taken away from the parents. That is going way too far. I would never take the situation to that step.
@s_ritesh20 (222)
• India
12 Jan 07
i think so it is so much harm ful to the children becuase thier defencive cells are not so much developed
@MarvinP (74)
• Philippines
12 Jan 07
This is what I would do. I'd tell him he has all the right to smoke all he wants but his child, who has asthma, has the right to breathe clean, unpolluted air in order to live. If he wants to let his own child die because he'd rather smoke, fine.
@briennekb (610)
• United States
13 Jan 07
I agree. I just hate to create waves with my neighbor. But at the same time, I ask myself, is creating waves more important than the safety of their child? I am hopefully going to come up with a tactful way of letting my feeelings about the situation come out.
