Thursday, May 04, 2006

Excuse me...I guess you didn't realize...What you are doing is killing you child! Oh well, I guess we are all ok with it...so go ahead.


What I don't understand are people who smoke around their children. In the house, at the park, and especially in the car (you've seen them...sometimes they are kind enough to crack their window, but a lot of the times they seal their children in. Allowing them to only breath the left over air from their parents cancer stick.) I am cool with people doing what they want to themselves and making their own choices. It's their right as a person to decide what goes in their body. I even understand (sorta) why people smoke. But how can anyone choose to smoke with children in the same area as them? When their own children are in the same room? I mean, it's not 1920, people know what smoking does to you...They know what second hand smoke does to children...What the hell?? Have you ever been around a child of a smoker? Have you ever hugged them and then later not been able to get the smell of tobacco off your own body? Have you ever helped a 3 year old change and put on a pair of fresh smoke filled clothes? Or what about their lunch? Ever helped a child of a smoker open their PB&j, and realize their sandwich reeked of smoke? I have and I want to cry everything I see them take a bite.
My question is...Why is this ok? I mean, like I said above...if an adult wants to do that to themselves fine, whatever. But shouldn't that be child abuse? Shouldn't you get pulled over for smoking with your child trapped (strapped down) in the car if you get pulled over for driving without a car seat? Aren't they both dangerous for the child? Can't both potentially cause death? Are we sending the message to our children, "your parents are ok with giving you cancer and we are too. We wouldn't want to take away the rights of someone who is important." What about the rights of those who have no voice of their own? I bet if you asked a five year "Are you ok with dying from a disease so that your parents can do what they want?" They would probably say no...I don't know...maybe we should ask the child of a smoker?

12 comments:

arwen said...

I like it when you say "what the hell" in your rants... it's so un-you. awesome. I ask myself this as well... I have told Seth that he has 2 stop smoking before we even "try" to have kids. I don't want my kids to associate smelly nasty smoker face with their dad. And there's the whole cancer thing. Unforch, his grandpa smoked for a long time and died of lung cancer, but lived to be pretty old, so Seth is ok with that. He has actually said that there is no medical proof that smoking causes cancer. There's also no proof that alcoholism is a hereditary gene. Hm... interesting. But I totally agree with you. It's sad that the addiction is so stront that they can't see past it to their children. :( sad face.

RoniZee said...

What about smoking pot in the same room as your children? No? Well what if said children suffered from glaucoma??? Huh???!!

Lisa said...

Good one Jess. I like your style, getting all up in everyone's face, like that. You're so cute.
It's ok for parents to smoke around their children, but give them alcohol and the DCS is at your door. I mean, I would rather my kid have a sip of beer than a drag of a cigarrette... in moderation of course.

tabitha jane said...

ahem. all smoking men will hate me for what i am about to say.

men who smoke increase their partner's chances for cervicle cancer. the nicotine in their semen comes in direct contact with their cervix.

gross.

Jess said...

I wonder if mothers who smoke and breast feed give nicotine to their babies through their milk? How sad would that be?

arwen said...

I'm sure they do, Jess... It would make sense, yeah?

Thanks for the info Tab... no really... one more reason for husband to cut it out.

tara said...

i like when you rant and rave jess. it makes me feel like you are making a difference in our world..or at least in our blogy world. now i must go, i need a drag. a big long stinky drag.

Mrs. Andrea Wood said...

And you live where smoking is considered a bad thing. The South has not caught up to the rest of the world. Apparently, they have not heard the bad news and have never seen the public service announcements and still think that a "smoking section" actually helps.

Jen said...

No joke. On the "south" topic, they are delayed in many areas take for instance eating healthy... They are a great example of how we all get caught up in what makes us happy, or comfortable, or what our parents did, or what we've "always done. Habits kill... eventually.

tabitha jane said...

arwen: it is either that or wear a condom to keep the nicotine at bay . . . does that sound fun?

arwen said...

I think his not smoking would be a little better... but this is getting into some topics that don't belong on Jess' blog...

Unknown said...

Well, I might agree with you if childern were PEOPLE (sarcasm mark). But since they are not people until they are old enough to poison themselves legally, there is no reason why parents should have to face abuse charges for any reason, including for forcing them to injest toxins (dark humor mark).