Saw something last night that shocked me

[hentob]

So instead of DRIVING to a FAST FOOD joint with your kid, take a WALK and have a nice salad

Maybe the OP and her DD already had their exercise for the day? Maybe they were ordering salads?

Or maybe they were getting a bucket of chicken b/c they like it?

There is no way I could ever compare a mother who lets her pre-teen daughter smoke to a mother who is taking her daughter to KFC to eat.

 

[grimley1968]

It's funny how this thread shows how cultural norms have changed over the years. I'm giving away my age a bit (like my username does), but my parents both grew up in households in the depression, WWII and post-war eras where most of their siblings (and themselves and their friends) all started smoking in their teens or even earlier. They may or may not have tried to hide it from their parents, but everyone knew they smoked. Of course, they did not know for sure that smoking was harmful in those days, so there was only the social aspect to keep them from smoking or entice them to it. In rural Kentucky, smoking was the thing to do in those days. Seeing a 12 YO smoking at a restaurant would have been par for the course then.

Of course it's different now, and while I knew a lot of kids that took up smoking in their early teens (Kentucky has the highest percentage of smokers per population than any state), my mother strongly forbade me from doing it. I never even took a drag until I was in college, and even then never went further since I thought it so nasty.

My mother died at 55 from esophogeal cancer. The smoking didn't cause it, but it degraded her overall health to the point where she could not fight it much at all. My dad is still going strong in his late 60's as a cigar smoker. I must say he's in pretty good shape for all the smoke he's put in his body.

I guess I would certainly be shocked to see a 12 YO smoking in front of his parents these days, even in Kentucky. But it still amazes me how much that has changed just in the last 30 years or so, where the sight of a 12 YO smoker did not shock me then. It's a change for the better, of course, but still pretty impressive to witness the change in social attitude.

 

[hentob]

I guess I would certainly be shocked to see a 12 YO smoking in front of his parents these days, even in Kentucky. But it still amazes me how much that has changed just in the last 30 years or so, where the sight of a 12 YO smoker did not shock me then. It's a change for the better, of course, but still pretty impressive to witness the change in social attitude.

Excellent observation. It amazes me when I watch the old black and white films where EVERYONE is smoking. It _was_ glamorous back then. No doubt about it.

Just think, nobody even knew it caused cancer. I would love for the PBS program American Experience to do a history of cigarettes. I would like to see when the real concern, the real stigma over smoking began. I mean, once the Surgeon General announced it, it wasn't like everyone stopped smoking. They still ran adds on television. It was still "cool". What was the progression of the way we feel about cigarettes today? It would be a neat program!

I am trying to think of other things that were done nonchalantly and with no concern and then BAM--It all changes. Thalidomide? Mercurochrome? Playing with the Fun Silver Stuff in a thermometer?

And what will be the big "I can't believe that causes cancer" of the future?

 

[wvjules]

So instead of DRIVING to a FAST FOOD joint with your kid, take a WALK and have a nice salad

Are you kidding me!?!?!? LOL We haven't had a KFC in years, I got a bucket of chicken, Mac n cheese, mashed potatoes and coleslaw. And it was YUMMY!!!!!!

We do normally eat reasonably healthy and she is always on the go so I'm not worried too much about her becoming an obese/unhealthy child.

 

[Viking]

Are you kidding me!?!?!? LOL We haven't had a KFC in years, I got a bucket of chicken, Mac n cheese, mashed potatoes and coleslaw. And it was YUMMY!!!!!!

We do normally eat reasonably healthy and she is always on the go so I'm not worried too much about her becoming an obese/unhealthy child.

My point was: Obesity is more of a problem for kids than smoking, but obviously the SMILEY put there to make clear that that last line was meant ironic was not CLEAR enough for you
It's good that your kid is healthy - 60%+ of the Americans aren't.

Those two thirds of the American population who are obese are not obese, because they just have junk food 'once in a while'.
Here's my point again: The fight against smoking is as good as over, because it has been WON. The worst enemy of health nowadays is FAT. So the energy used against smoking should now be used to fight overweight/obesity.

The USA is the first western nation in which the average life expectancy has already started to go DOWN!!! Main reason: Bad nutritional habits.

 

[Deb in IA]

Here's my point again: The fight against smoking is as good as over, because it has been WON.

While increasing obesity in both adults and children is a major health problem in the US, I strongly DISAGREE with your comment that the fight against smoking has been won.

The rate of US adults who smoke has remained consistently at 25% for the last 10 year or so. Also, smoking-related illnesses, including COPD, emphysema, and lung cancer continue to take lives every day.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Our valdectorian a 3 years ago smoked pot with his parents. He had told his buddies in yearbook class and they told the advisor who told me (I know, 3rd hand). I believe it because he developed a real attitude his senior year and defended drug use when it was brought up and also threw a few references to "Flying high" into his graduation speech, which drew many chuckles from the seniors.
I know norms have changed, but I don't think the war against smoking has been won. 22% of the seniors in my county smoke according to last week's paper, and 5% of 6th graders! That leads me to believe me more parents are enabling than we would think. Can you imagine the money being wasted on cigarettes in these families? They are probably driving beater cars so they can afford their "fix".
I always point out smokers to my kids and comment on how trashy they look, esp. pretty girls who ruin the look with a cigarette in their mouths.
Robin M.

 

[scraptoons]

I've seen worse.

13 years ago in London, I saw a boy no older than 12 strolling down the sidewalk with his grandfather..it would have been a sweet sight except that they were both smoking.

It is really bad over there. I found it very hard to find fresh air to breathe in any of the public places. Hopefully it is not as bad now as it was then.

 

[rrkman]

Is allowing them to smoke any worse than engulfing them with 2nd hand smoke? Most kids probably inhale less smoke from their own cigarettes than they do from their parents. I've had maybe 50 cigarettes in my life but probably inhaled enough to count for a couple packs a week...all before the legal smoking age.

 

[Viking]

While increasing obesity in both adults and children is a major health problem in the US, I strongly DISAGREE with your comment that the fight against smoking has been won.

The rate of US adults who smoke has remained consistently at 25% for the last 10 year or so. Also, smoking-related illnesses, including COPD, emphysema, and lung cancer continue to take lives every day.

The fight against smoking is over, because except for prohibiting it completely you can't put more pressure on the smokers than you're doing now, can you? And every American should know from history that you can't prohibit a vice like that.
Obesity is not A major health problem - it is THE major health problem. And it's tougher to fight. Nobody has to smoke, but everybody MUST eat - so you can't quit it, you can just limit it. And every ex-smoker can tell you that it's easier to quit than to limit it.

 

[goofygirl]

This is nothing new, I have seen 12, 13, 14 year olds smoking since I was in school- back in the 80's.
It used to crack me up when I saw the Catholic school girls light up while they were wearing their cute little-girlish uniforms. It looked like a real contradiction!

Perhaps what is new is the trend that parents allow their preteens and teens to smoke. But then its also "normal" now for teens and preteens to have sex and have babies, all with parental knowledge. What a sad, sick world this is.

 

[dkostel]

Just think, nobody even knew it caused cancer. I would love for the PBS program American Experience to do a history of cigarettes. I would like to see when the real concern, the real stigma over smoking began. I mean, once the Surgeon General announced it, it wasn't like everyone stopped smoking. They still ran adds on television. It was still "cool". What was the progression of the way we feel about cigarettes today? It would be a neat program!

I believe the real stigma over smoking began when the insurance lobby became more powerful than the tobacco lobby.

More people smoke in Europe, and it is more acceptable, but cigarettes in Europe don't contain tobacco that was treated with such yummy chemicals as amonia.

 

[grimley1968]

The fight against smoking is as good as over, because it has been WON.

Like Deb, I strongly disagree with this statement. True, smoking is not as prevalant in American society as it was 20 years ago, there are still a lot of smokers. I can't tell you how many people I know who have tried to quit, but can't, knowing full well the long-term effects smoking will have on their health. And this battle affects all Americans who buy health insurance, as health insurance rates are inflated by the costs of long-term care for smokers and even former smokers. I think the OP has proved by this very thread that the fight against smoking is not over, because it showed that yet another 12 year old is learning that smoking is okay, from her very own mother. Unless she has a very strong will and/or strong constitution, she will most likely (going by statistics) become addicted to nicotine, smoke cigarettes most of her life, have smoking-related health problems later on, and end up costing herself and all of us a lot of money in what should have been unnecessary health care costs.

There are many people who are simply fat, and not because they eat too much, or get bad nutrition. They are just born that way, and they are not necessarily unhealthy. I'm a skinny guy (or was), and a friend of mine who is probably 65 pounds heavier than me can out-race me on a track and can out-play me in racquetball, simply because he's in better shape than I am. I'm no slob. He's just a healthier guy genetically than me. This guy, who is technically obese but does not smoke, is far, far healthier than anyone I know who smokes more than half a pack a day, but are my weight or thinner.

I think the fight against smoking has a long, long way to go before it can be considered "won". I don't want to discount obesity as a problem, but just because obesity is a problem does not mean we've gotten rid of smoking as a problem.

 

[TallyLassie]

It seems like the Mom could be charged with something since she is allowing her daughter to smoke. The bad thing is the daugter is now addicted.

Reminds me of this that I read this week:

A mother who helped her daughter make Ex-Lax laxative laced cookies to give to a teacher that gave her a low grade was arrested Friday afternoon. The students left the cookies on the intended victim’s desk but the teacher shared them with students instead of eating them. At least four seventh and eighth grade students became ill.

The mom even showed her how to crush them, etc.

 

[Stacey2grls]

That is just absolutely dispicable! Too many parents want to be "friends", and not parents!

 

[Marseeya]

It seems like the Mom could be charged with something since she is allowing her daughter to smoke. The bad thing is the daugter is now addicted.

Reminds me of this that I read this week:

A mother who helped her daughter make Ex-Lax laxative laced cookies to give to a teacher that gave her a low grade was arrested Friday afternoon. The students left the cookies on the intended victim’s desk but the teacher shared them with students instead of eating them. At least four seventh and eighth grade students became ill.

The mom even showed her how to crush them, etc.

Geez, what's wrong with kids these days? They're just lazy and expect their parents to do everything for them.

When we were that age, we figured out how to make ex-lax brownies ourselves.



Sorry.

 

[Sleepy]

Are you kidding me!?!?!? LOL We haven't had a KFC in years, I got a bucket of chicken, Mac n cheese, mashed potatoes and coleslaw. And it was YUMMY!!!!!!

That's right. Just brag abut how wonderful KFC is to those of us who are unfortunate enough to not have one available. It;s been 2 years since I had KFC. I actually ate a Swanson chicken tender dinner the other day and told my husband it tasted like KFC. I'm desperate.

 

[Viking]

Like Deb, I strongly disagree with this statement. True, smoking is not as prevalant in American society as it was 20 years ago, there are still a lot of smokers. I can't tell you how many people I know who have tried to quit, but can't, knowing full well the long-term effects smoking will have on their health. And this battle affects all Americans who buy health insurance, as health insurance rates are inflated by the costs of long-term care for smokers and even former smokers. I think the OP has proved by this very thread that the fight against smoking is not over, because it showed that yet another 12 year old is learning that smoking is okay, from her very own mother. Unless she has a very strong will and/or strong constitution, she will most likely (going by statistics) become addicted to nicotine, smoke cigarettes most of her life, have smoking-related health problems later on, and end up costing herself and all of us a lot of money in what should have been unnecessary health care costs.

There are many people who are simply fat, and not because they eat too much, or get bad nutrition. They are just born that way, and they are not necessarily unhealthy. I'm a skinny guy (or was), and a friend of mine who is probably 65 pounds heavier than me can out-race me on a track and can out-play me in racquetball, simply because he's in better shape than I am. I'm no slob. He's just a healthier guy genetically than me. This guy, who is technically obese but does not smoke, is far, far healthier than anyone I know who smokes more than half a pack a day, but are my weight or thinner.

I think the fight against smoking has a long, long way to go before it can be considered "won". I don't want to discount obesity as a problem, but just because obesity is a problem does not mean we've gotten rid of smoking as a problem.

A) You won't come any further in the fight against smoking as you are now.

B) Please save me from that old fairy tale There are many people who are simply fat, and not because they eat too much, or get bad nutrition. They are just born that way, and they are not necessarily unhealthy.
Less than 1% of the population have the problem of being fat because of genetic disposition. 99% of all obese people are so due to lack of exercise, too much food, and wrong food. Many of them are ill, because they're overweight - not vice versa. The only positive side-effect of obese people over smokers is: There is no second-hand fat
Many obese people have no health issue right now, but they will have them most probably later - and that is where it is similar to smoking.

C) Just because someone is heavier it doesn't mean he/she is fatter. Bonestructure and muscle mass also play a role. The only thing which really counts is the percentage of bodyfat. A scale is the wrong tool to determine wether someone is overweight.

D) The amounts your health care system has to spend to fight weight-related issues easily exceeds that of tobacco-related diseases.

E) And finally: Society should always direct its power against the largest threat - and that is no longer smoking.

 

[Viking]

That's right. Just brag abut how wonderful KFC is to those of us who are unfortunate enough to not have one available. It;s been 2 years since I had KFC. I actually ate a Swanson chicken tender dinner the other day and told my husband it tasted like KFC. I'm desperate.

How can someone live in Bella Italia and miss American junk food?

 

[BuzzBoyMom]

It is very sad that parent would permit her daughter to smoke. I just have to wonder what else the parent permits. And then we wonder why our children are in trouble.

Parent - it is a noun AND a verb!!!