I Can't Get My Head Round This One
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
April 18, 2011 4:31pm CST
I've never smoked but I don't judge those who do..HOWEVER, why do teenagers take up the habit when they know what the dangers to their health and wallets are? It makes no sense. We know way more about smoking now than in Mum's day. Mum grew up thinking that smoking was actually good for her lungs!
This discussion came about when I spotted the young lass over the road standing outside the front door smoking away with her boyfriend. I know she can do what she likes but I would've thought her Mum would try to talk her out of it as it's less of a wise move now than it was in her day.
More at stake.
Even hubby has cut down drastically after all tobacco products went up following the Budget recently. More tax to the government.
Do your kids smoke? Does it bother you or not?
3 people like this
9 responses
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
18 Apr 11
Neither one of my two children smokes, thankfully and so far. lol
Would it bother me, yes because I would know they simply started out of peer pressure and or to be so with the "in" crowd. I have raised my kids to be leaders and team players and not followers so it would bother me, however once started can they stop? Smoking is habitual and something once use to cannot be stopped.
@GardenGerty (160031)
• United States
19 Apr 11
Neither of my kids smokes. Both my parents smoked, wished they could quit, and only my half sister smokes. I think it was an attention thing to her, and a way to prove how grownup she was and to defy our parents. My kids just did not like being around it, so they did not smoke and as far as I know only had one or two dates with people who did smoke.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
19 Apr 11
I don't buy the argument that many kids smoke whose parents have smoked as both of mine do and I've never had the desire to take it up myself. My brother did but I don't think he smokes that much now, if at all. As far as I know his son doesn't bother either. "Too dear" I've heard him say which is true.
Also, people can't smoke in public places anymore so lighting up in a pub would be a no-no, not like when I was a teen. So, I can't understand what the attraction is, even with the peer pressure element.
If a friend of mine tried getting me to smoke I'd say, "Sod off, if you want to be skint all your life and have health problems, go right ahead but I'm keeping my money in my purse..oh, and mine's a lager!"
Hahaha!
1 person likes this
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
19 Apr 11
Ahh, but we are older and wiser, the kids today seem to be quite influenced. On thing for sure am so glad I don't currently have littler ones.
Personally I prefer Coronas.
1 person likes this
@lyamsitiy (104)
• Philippines
19 Apr 11
Teens nowadays smokes because of peer pressure. Adults may not see peer pressure as a problem maybe because they have not experience this when they were teens or its not that bothering in their times but in todays young generation peer pressure is a big issue. The desire to fit in, to belong to a group is something that teenagers see as an important aspect of growing up. And as many teens today find it pleasurable to smoke then increasing number of youngsters are engaging in it. It bothers me that my brother has started smoking and he's 19 years old.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
19 Apr 11
I really think celebrities should do more. I'm not sure if the likes of Cheryl Cole smokes but if she doesn't she could do so much to deter kids (especially young women) to not take the habit up in the first place.
Your brother may grow out of smoking..it's a possibility. I suppose it depends on how many he's having per day. My husband has smoked for years but not in excess, fortunately. Hopefully, your brother will be the same although I do realise you want him to stop completely.
@lyamsitiy (104)
• Philippines
19 Apr 11
Yes, i really want him to stop. I keep on asking him not to smoke every time we are together because i don't like it. I think he smokes 3-5 sticks per day if he's not drinking.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
20 Apr 11
Tell him to cut down on his drinking if he can..that might help..oh, and welcome to MyLot!
@GardenGerty (160031)
• United States
18 Apr 11
They may not have any other bills right now, if they are living with parents and not having expenses. So the money is not so serious to them. And you know, of course, that young people are totally indestructible. It is always the other person who gets sick, or whatever. It is also a subtle way of being defiant. They will not get arrested for it, but they are going against what "everybody says'.
@GardenGerty (160031)
• United States
19 Apr 11
It may be that they get a huge allowance. I know that the experts say that you have to walk a fine line between giving kids "enough" and too much. My folks never had a lot to give us one way or another.
@ElicBxn (63486)
• United States
19 Apr 11
I know that the roomie's oldest niece and both nephews are smoking, and they should've known better, but since both of their parents smoke - and they are pretty stupid about doing smart or right things - and their parents are WORSE - I guess they at least have the excuse that their mom and any guy she was with smoked.
STUPID STUPID STUPID!!!
I hope they aren't smoking around their kids! (I'm not holding my breath however)
@lacieice (2060)
• United States
19 Apr 11
I don't think young people do it to be cool or because of peer pressure. I think it's a form of rebelion...something they know they shouldn't do.
I smoke. I've smoked for longer than I care to admit. My husband smokes. My kids always said they would never smoke, but that both do.
My son's wife smokes; however he quit about a year ago. My daughter's husband smokes, and she did too until about a week ago, when she was admitted into the hospital and diagnosed with, as yet, an unspecified type of cancer. They thought at first that it was lymphoma, but now they aren't sure...could be a form of adenocarcinoma, but they don't know where it is......
@lacieice (2060)
• United States
19 Apr 11
I don't want to take over your discussion, but I wanted you to know that they have reached a diagnosis...small cell cancer. She will undergo chemotheray for the next 18 weeks. There is no prognosis for life expetancy,,,there are too many variables. We can only hope for the best.
@stary1 (6612)
• United States
19 Apr 11
I started years ago because it was the 'cool' and 'in' thing to do. You are correct, we were not told it was bad for our health. In fact I smoked when pregnant with my first child. When I asked the doctor about it, he said the baby would not be affected except perhaps a smaller birth weight. How dumb was that?? In this case he was fortunately correct. No ill effects to the child and I thank God for that.
It took years before I finally gave up smoking. Both my husband and I smoke but my children do not. They hated it when we smoked and so they had nothing to do with it. I am at least grateful for that.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
19 Apr 11
Education was severely lacking wasn't it? In fact, I know that in my home Town of Blackpool, it has the highest incidence of girls smoking whilst pregnant, in the country. Not a good statistic is it?
What the doctors are playing at I don't know. They should be touring the schools in the area educating the kids.
@coffeeshot (3783)
• Australia
19 Apr 11
I think that the reason teenagers ignore the health warnings is because they think they're invincible. Or rather, they feel invincible. They might think 'I'll give up later', or 'i'll deal with the consequences later'. Smoking is very much an image thing for young people. Most young people realise that smoking creates a smelly, trashy image while others unfortunately think it makes them look or seem cool. I started smoking when I was 19 and I thought I would be able to stop. I have been an on and off smoker for years now and it gets harder and harder to quit as time goes on. I have told my younger siblings that the best way to quit smoking is to not start!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
19 Apr 11
That last sentence is a very good one and oh, so true! Not starting in the first place is the best deterrent isn't it? I hope your siblings take notice of such a wise statement.
@_sketch_ (5742)
• United States
18 Apr 11
I think that the reason why teenagers start smoking is because of the feeling. They say that when you first start smoking, it gives you a rush. Also, smoking is calming and teenagers have stress just like the rest of the world. I have heard many times of claims that teenagers do it "because it's cool", because of peer-pressure. That may be true for some, but from my experience of having many smoking friends, this is not a common thing. In fact, many (if not most) didn't start smoking with their friends, but rather in secret.
I don't have kids, but if I did I would definitely discourage the behavior. However, if they did, I wouldn't be angry with them. I would be worried for them I imagine, but not angry. I would probably talk with them and try to convince them to kick the habit, but if I was too pushy with it, it wouldn't do any good, only push them away, which would make things worse.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
18 Apr 11
I agree with you. Like yourself I do not have children but often wonder what I would do if my kids started smoking..in secret or otherwise. I think I'd be more disappointed than anything. Also, I would mention how expensive the habit has now become and no, I wouldn't fund it either. They'd have to ask Dad for the money lol.
@tiggerfan (12)
•
19 Apr 11
I think these days it is peer pressure which makes teenagers turn to smoking, beacuse their mates do it, they feel it is cool to do it also.
With today's teenage cultures, they think it makes them look "hard" or adult-like if they are seen smoking, particularly when in groups or gangs.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
19 Apr 11
I agree with OreoCookie3 but tiggerfan..you're new so I shall be kind..you're right there are SOME who still give into peer pressure but - in my opinion, it's a small minority. I blame the parents for giving them the money to buy ciggies in the first place. Granted they could be using the money that has been given to them for food at school so, in that instance the parents wouldn't know. However, smelling their breath when they come home should give them a clue..and I would stop giving them money as a "punishment."
Thank God I'm not a parent..so strict would I be!