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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be a little smug at the fact neither of my DC know what to call a cigarett

183 replies

Gigantaur · 26/07/2010 20:23

they know what a cigarette is they just don't know what one is actually called.

the closest was DD who called it a "flag"

DS is 9.10 and DD 5.10

they also call all alcohol beer and have been known to pull a face at people who say they are going to the pub.

DD has also gone up to a man smoking and told him he was going to die because he smokes.

I did tell her that was rude and she wasn't to do it, but i did smile inside.

OP posts:
LetThereBeRock · 26/07/2010 20:26

Personally I'd be embarrassed if my hypothetical children were so rude to adults. I wouldn't be boasting about it on here.

PerpetuallyAnnoyedByHeadlice · 26/07/2010 20:27

thats pretty impressive for the oldr child

i remembr dd about age 4 called them smoke sticks! and would stick both her fingers up her nostrils if we had to walk past anyone smoking! LOL

Ladyanonymous · 26/07/2010 20:27
Biscuit
fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 26/07/2010 20:28

Sounds like me at that age..my mum used to smoke in secret and I used to find her cigarette packets and write "you will die" on them, apparently . To this day have never smoked.

duke748 · 26/07/2010 20:28

Congratulations on making your kids as rude and judgemental as you!

KurriKurri · 26/07/2010 20:29

I'm not sure why it's impressive not to know the name of something. Telling children an object is called a cigarette will not turn them into smokers. I think my children at that age would have been curious about what things are called.

Why do they pull faces at people? I would feel less than smug about that behaviour.

Original poster
Gigantaur · 26/07/2010 20:29

Letthereberock - As i said, she was told straight away that it was rude and she was not to do it. She had had some kind of talk about it at school i think as it certainly isn't something I had spoken to her about.

and and when i say pull a facet at people i mean they kind of pull an "urgh" face when people say they are going to the pub. not a face AT them, just a face at the thought of people drinking.
iyswim

OP posts:
EmmaKateWH · 26/07/2010 20:30

duke 748 - I hardly think that teaching one's children about the obvious hazards of the utterly filthy and self destructive habit that is smoking is making them rude and judgmental! Besides - even if it is judgmental so what? I judge people for smoking because its utterly revolting and shows no respect for your health.

RambleOn · 26/07/2010 20:32

Wait until they're adults and non-smokers before you feel smug, pride comes before a fall, and they may be chuffing away like trains by the time they're 12

LetThereBeRock · 26/07/2010 20:32

Still rude in my book. I wouldn't be at all happy if my child did this and I don't smoke,and detest smoking, and I don't drink alcohol.

Original poster
Gigantaur · 26/07/2010 20:33

I am the only adult member of my family that doesn't smoke. my father and all my adult sinblings (even my 14 year old brother does i suspect) so they have been around smokers.

It just isn't something that has come up.

oh and i drink. so the alcohol thing isn't me either. but it isn't something i am going to try too hard to change

OP posts:
ifancyashandy · 26/07/2010 20:33

The anti smoking thing I understand (but would be horrified if a child of mine was so rude to a stranger) but why do your children pull an 'urgh' face at people going to the pub?

Are you that judgemental in your home?

Ladyanonymous · 26/07/2010 20:34

Whats so bloody wrong with adults going to the pub?!

And I say that as someone who works in addictions!!

Firawla · 26/07/2010 20:34

knowing the name is not going to harm them, i dont think it is particularly impressive tbh. for a 9 year old its a bit strange if they don't know the word...
obviously if they smoke @ that age its nothing to be proud of, it would be really bad but i would have thought they would pick up the word atleast, even in an anti smoking kind of context?

Altinkum · 26/07/2010 20:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

duke748 · 26/07/2010 20:36

Thinking drinking to excess and smoking are wrong - good.

Making faces and rude, smug comments - bad.

Hope that helps!

rainbowinthesky · 26/07/2010 20:36

Ds was just the same as your kids.

Of course now he is 14 he has been pissed with his mates in the park and puffed a few fags.

KurriKurri · 26/07/2010 20:38

I think on the whole it's better to give children information, and help them understand life is all about making choices. Knowing about things at an age appropriate time will help them with their choices. I think 9yrs is old enough for a child to know what cigarettes and alcohol are called.

atswimtwolengths · 26/07/2010 20:39

I'm just amazed your son doesn't know the word 'cigarette' when he's nearly ten.

sarah293 · 26/07/2010 20:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
Gigantaur · 26/07/2010 20:45

as was i atswimtwolengths

calling all alcohol beer didn't really stand out but when DS was trying to tell me about a boy he saw smoking he couldn't find the word for cigarette. and then DD chipped in with "you mean a flag"

it just made me smile. It isn't something that i have activly hidden from them. as i say, my family all smoke and they see them almost daily.

I didn't think they lead too sheltered a life.
maybe i need to do more to "educate" them

OP posts:
AnyFuleKno · 26/07/2010 20:48

I think it's a great sign of progress in society that your children haven't been so bombarded with cigarette advertising and images as we were when we were kids. Definitely something to be chuffed about.

traceybath · 26/07/2010 20:49

I think there is a lot of anti-smoking stuff out there.

We were at my mothers last week (she smokes) and ds1 (5) started holding his nose when questioned as to what he was doing he told me 'x at school says you have to hold your nose when some-one smokes or you die!'.

So I think the anti-smoking stuff is pretty normal really.

I guess the pub thing depends as to whether they associate it with a pleasant couple of drinks or people getting really drunk and horrid.

DS1 loves pubs as it means crisps and appletiser.

AnyFuleKno · 26/07/2010 20:50

A question for some of the other posters on this thread - do you think it's important that your kids know what cocaine is called/looks like so that they are educated about it?

Or would you rather than they just didn't have to come across it at all.

prozacfairy · 26/07/2010 20:51

My daughter knows what a cigarette is at 2 and she also knows it's a bad habit and will tell her daddy on a daily basis its "gusting daddy! Cigarettes make you smelly and old!" This I encourage- we all know she doesn't do it to be rude because we know her and love her.

I would have an issue with her talking this way to a stranger, no matter what I think of smoking as it is both overly rude and none of her business (or mine) whether they smoke and drink. I don't think I'd be very smug if my DC was ignorant of what the correct slang for a cigarette was, or that their bad manners when talking to adults.

Also, don't think that just because they think little of pubs now it'll always be that way. I hated them as a child and moaned like hell at aged 10 when being cragged their by my dad. It was only a few short years later I was sneaking in round the back and downing cheapo Reefs etc.