Smoking around kids .... how bad??

outofmoney

My Mum smoked throughout her pregnancy and until I was about 7. I knew no different. I had friends at school whose parents smoked and when I left school I worked alongside smokers.

Now I am a SAHM and none of my friends smoke I am very alert to a slight whiff of smoke. I am also very protective of my children and will steer them well away from any smokers. Many say they are considerate but standing in a doorway we need to pass through is not considerate to me. Nor are all the butts on the floor but that is another issue.

In the OP situation I think I would have to explain to the ex that whilst contact is very important so is the health of the child. Therefore you would want the contact to take place somewhere else where they will not be exposed to the smoke. Luckily it sounds like this has happened anyway.

I do agree that only 'perfect' parents should have kids but if that was the case none of us would be here. I think what is important is doing what is best for the child. If a parents shows little care for the childs wellbeing then it is a form of abuse. If they were regulalrly exposed to a !!!!!phile the SS would be involved. If the child was fed junk food all the time and had a weight issue the school or HV would have a word. But it is fine to breathe toxic smoke over a child. Maybe (In an ideal world) all children who have relatives who smoke should have a 6 monthly check up including chest X Ray. It may make some realise exactly what damage they are causing.

Amn also wondering how long it will be before a child sues their parent(s) if later in life they develop cancer believed to be caused by living in a smoking environment.

ETA: I liked the illustration of a swimming pool with two sections. (Sorry, can't remember the poster) Urinating/Non urinating. No matter how hard you try the pee would seep into the non area. Smoking is just the same, no matter how hard you try.

FattyBettyBoo

Aggrrrggghh .... eeeewwww .... just made friends with his ex on facebook and according to her previous status' they were having sex with her asleep in the room. Now she's damaged physically and mentally