This all came up in conversation with a girlfriend of mine just yesterday.... She and her husband have never smoked. They have 3 children ranging from 14 yrs to 21 yrs. Her two oldest smoke and she just found out yesterday that her youngest does as well. Smoking wasn't an issue at home so it just wasn't discussed. She and her husband thought they were raising non-smokers by their example.
On the other hand, my girlfriend has a sister that's a very heavy smoker. Her daughter of 24 is also a very heavy smoker. She believes her daughter learned heaving smoking by her example. She hates the fact that her daughter smokes. I told her to talk with her... She would ask me, "How can you tell your kids not to smoke when you smoke yourself?" That one was a no brainer.. How can I NOT tell them????
I'm the daughter of two parents that didn't smoke. Me, along with my other two siblings smoke... (past tense for 2 of us now!) We never heard much about smoking in our home. It wasn't an issue. My parents believed they were teaching by example.
I have two children, 18 and 21. I smoked but from the time they were little, I taught strongly against it. I prayed they'd never follow my example as a smoker. So far, neither of my kids smoke and even appear to be repulsed by it. I hope it's engrained in them to never even consider it.
I just can't help but believe that communication and discussion is so important.
Good thread, butterfly. Maybe from the answers in this thread we can figure out better ways in how to raise non-smoking children so they can teach their children...and they can teach theirs ...etc...etc...etc... :)
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/2/2005
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 373
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 7,473
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1331.61
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 39 [B]Hrs:[/B] 13 [B]Mins:[/B] 30 [B]Seconds:[/B] 3
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Quit Meter
$19,733.97
Amount Saved
-
Quit Meter
Days: 742
Hours: 4
Minutes: 56
Seconds: 10
Life Gained
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Quit Meter
5073
Smoke Free Days
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Quit Meter
101,460
Cigarettes Not Smoked
