Bad Parenting 101: Cigarettes

nova-smoker

Of course I know smoking is bad for me, but I never thought about the effect SEEING smoking would have on my child.

Last night, my little devil made me sit back and think about it being time to, at the very least, move my smoking in the closet.

I was smoking out back and I turned to see what mischeif my little monkey was into, and there she was standing with a cigarette in cradled betwixt her index and middle finger like a little Marlboro man. To make matter worse she feigned a smokers cough or two.

When I tried to take the smoke away from her she ran at full speed screaming “MY SIG-WET” down the hallway. I finally caught up to her – she shoved the butt into her mouth and bit it with her teeth as hard as she could.  Then, grinning at me,  she laughed and laughed while I tried with all my might to extract the cigarette from her mouth. After several exasperating and amusing moments, I finally was able to pry it from her. I revelled in my success for an instant, during which she shoved a hidden, second cigarette in her mouth.

When I finally had wrestled that cigarette from her I found myself wanting to discipline her, but in a quandary for a real reason. She sees me smoke, so she emulates it. My fault. I am a naturally stubborn person who hates authority so she has that in her blood. My fault. She thought she was being funny, and she was had it not been a cigarette, but she didn’t know that. Not her fault.

So I’m still thinking about how I should have handled that… Any thoughts?

Tags: , ,

  • @kim @eric- thanks! I know I'm going to have to quit, and soon. This may just be the motivation I need.

    As far as treating it like a dangerous object, I wonder if it's a bit confusing that I smoke them AND tell her how bad they are, particularly at this age. I guess it's no different than sayign a knife is dangerous and cutting onions in front of her... I'm guessing hiding them and not smoking in front of her is the best option. Out of sight, out of mind...

    @ deb - Erin told me a story about why you quit and I am the same way... it takes a revelation or a crisis to make me decide to make a big change. I don't know if that's happened yet.
  • I think Kim has the right idea.. Maybe relate it to them like the way they cant play with knives, scissors or a hot stove.
    .-= Eric´s last blog ..Not so much. =-.
  • deb
    I don't know what to tell you honey, Erin begged her father and I to quit for years and when we did, she started, go figure. Love you always, you will make the right decision.
  • Hmmm ... that's a hard one. I smoked for years and years. I have four kids the oldest is 20, the others 10, 9 and 4. The oldest saw me smoke for 10 years.

    She was always getting into my cigarettes and sometimes even poked holes in them with sharp objects. err!

    I used to always tell her they were ucky, dirty, would make her sick (maybe that lead to the holes?). It comes back to bite you in the butt, because before you know it they are nagging you to quit.

    I think you have to treat them like something dangerous, just like a sharp knife. She sees you cutting with one, but you'd still get serious with her if you saw her playing with one.

    Of course, you know you have to quit someday right?

    Kim

    p.s. --> I love your blog!
    .-= kim - mommyknows´s last blog ..Laugh Out Loud =-.
blog comments powered by Disqus