What do you think? Parent buying teen cigarettes - Page 2

[fruitfulmomma]

I smoked for four years as a teen and quit when I met my husband who grew up with smoking parents and absolutely despises it. (His dad died a year ago from a smoking-related heart attack.) There is NO way I would ever buy my kids cigarettes and I think her parents are acting very naively if they think she is really only smoking the ones they give her.

[doulatara]

Originally Posted by gingsengmom

My next door neighbor's 16 year old son smokes and the parents encourage it, even though neither of them smokes. They call it 'free expression'.

That is seriously one of the craziest things I have ever heard! I could see parents using the "free expression" reasoning for many things- hair cut or colors, manners of dress, listening to or creating music with controversial subjects or lyrics, controversial artwork, etc....but smoking is not about self expression. It is intentionally putting toxins into a body and increasing health risks. Ridiculous!

[ollyoxenfree]

Originally Posted by gingsengmom

My next door neighbor's 16 year old son smokes and the parents encourage it, even though neither of them smokes. They call it 'free expression'.

Free expression of what? A death wish?

For a physical gesture to constitute "expression", it must have content. I can find no intelligible content in a child with a cigarette.

[mandib50]

never. i wouldn't buy anyone cigarettes, and certainly not my kids. except perhaps for someone i loved if they were on their death bed and wanted one last smoke. i guess i say that because my mom has lung cancer, and although to my knowledge she hasn't smoked since her diagnosis, i would do that for her on her death bed. but not before.

[mommyinIL1976]

Originally Posted by Violet2

Mom has the philosophy of 'if I buy them cigarettes then I can ration it/control it and they won't smoke anyplace else.'
V

I think this mom is deluded if she believes this.

No, I would never encourage a habit known to kill over half of those partaking in it.