Week 16: Smoking

"Is smoking killing the next generation?"

Now, anyone who knows me, knows that I hate smoking.  It is pointless, smelly, expensive, dirty, and an overall pain in my life.  However, never having tried it, I cannot criticise TOO much (though I probably still will).  But in reality, I do not care what people do in the privacy of THEIR house.  They can smoke themselves to death and that does not involve me, nor should it.  My problem however is children. 

I think that the worst thing I have ever seen is when I was working in (a fast food restaurant), and I was outside cleaning some tables.  A woman was sitting at a table, cradling a new born (not even a week old), smoking a cigarette.  She was pratically blowing smoke into the poor things face.  The little baby began coughing, and the woman said to the person next to her 'what's wrong with it?  Is it sick or something?'  It took every ounce of my being to not smack her in the face.  As I said, I do not care what an adult does in their own house, but when you bring children into the equation, I CARE!  They cannot get away, they cannot stop you, and they cannot tell you that you are hurting them.  You are taking away their choice and their health, just for some selfish, and might I add temporary, self gratification! 

Unfortunately, I have an even worse example.  When I was working in a different location, one of my co-workers was braging that when she was pregnant, she used to smoke all of the time, and none of her children had any problems!  I could not believe my ears!  That was possibly the most disgusting thing I had EVER heard!  That poor little baby was doomed before it ever got started.  I also later found out that both of her children had severe asthma problems, but she could not see the correlation.  I am sorry, but people disgust me!  As soon as you become a parent, (or even a parent-to-be) you have responsibility over another person's life.  Wouldn't you want to give them the best chance at life?  Your own wants and desires come second to the needs of your child!

I do have an example of a glimmer of hope though.  I had a relief chef come into work one day, and while she was there she seemed quite pre-occupied, so I took her aside while it was quiet, and I asked her if everything was okay.  She told me that that morning she had found out she was pregnant.  On top of this, she was a smoker.  "I just threw all of my cigarettes into the bin.  Quitting isn't very difficult when you have no choice."  I was so pleased to hear that at least one person out there had a brain in their head!

Now, as I said, I am not a smoker, nor have I EVER tried one, so this is not my field of expertiece.  But I do know that I see far too many people smoking around their children or loved ones who have chosen not to, but are still being affected.  The sad truth is that there are thousands of parents out there who would rather satisfy their wants, than to satisfy their children's needs, and I for one am digusted at their selfishness.  If something drastic is not done to stop our youth being exposed to this nastiness, they are going to be dying before they start growing.

If you have any opinions on this topic, please leave a comment.

-T.J.