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

[Gigantaur]

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.

anyway I do think a lot of people missed the fact that he has ASD, and a lot would have perhaps thought differently if they had known, as Buddjela just said.

So I stand by the fact that i pointed it out.

..having a DD with probably ASD myself I might be glad she didn't know what a cigarette was but would no way ever "delight" in her lack of vocabulary.

Thanks lemonysweet and no we don't .

Teaching Yrs 8 - 11 about Drugs and Alcohol for a full day (when I am not an actual teacher as such) often drives me to want to drink though

Loving the "Just Say No" inspired song

oh my word its still going.

Thanks for the chilled and laid back, Fanjo. I think that sums me up pretty well

Thiswas only a bit of a fun thread. It was more surprise that they wouldn't know. they are not at all protected or shielded from the big bad world. I am probably even negelectfull by MN standards of childcare (i leave them in the car at petrol stations, feed them at greggs and will allow the odd frootshite)

they didn't know the word for something that is IMHO hamrfull and i was pleasantly surprised. In a world where kids seem to know far more than they probably should, i am glad of that.

As for a lack of vocabulary, yes it is true, they don't know what you would call a that white powder slebs shovel up their hooter either.

someone call ss quick.

Honeslty MN is such a funny place.

Gigantaur.. I ASPIRE to be as laid back as you (have got a long way to go)

My dcs calling it 'smoking' and have no idea about 'cigarettes'. They also no nothing about drugs, but too much about alcohol.

I do wonder though if complete ignorance, about drugs not smoking vocab, whether they should begin to be aware....the oldest is eight.

And another MN thing, for those those that don't give their dcs Coke...when do you? What age is okay?

Fanjo - I get your point but I still think it would be more helpful to explain how that was not an example of y rather than just saying 'people who x don't do y'.

well, sorry, it is an emotive subject for me, I was typing on my phone at the bus stop on way back from physio and did not stop to clearly think through the wording. I feel the sentiment is more important than the wording.

I stand by the jist of what stressed about it all than the supremely laid back OP .

Not sure why you are trying to tell me how to construct posts either.

Oops..I meant I stand by the jist of what I said, although I am clearly more stressed about it all than the supremely laid-back OP, not sure what happened to that sentence.

can i just say i am also utterly stunned no one has told me off for the missing "e" in the title.

Not trying to tell you how to construct posts, explaining why your argument wasn't going to persuade anyone.

Impressive making any sentences at a bus stop though - are you on an iphone? Is it any good?

Anyway, my unwanted poncey lesson on debating goes like this....

'Gigi is delighting in her child's lack of vocabulary'
'No she isn't because people with autistic children wouldn't do that'
'Well she has an autistic child and she just did so what you say makes no sense'

vs

'Gigi is delighting in her child's lack of vocabulary'
'No, she isn't, she is doing something else entirely....'

Am on a Nokia N97, it is alright, doesn't format paragraphs very well.

Gigantaur, I will tell you off about it and pull on my virtual boxing gloves and give you a good punching too.

I know how to construct an argument btw, am educated, me

We're all edjumacated on MN, the survey says so

That's right. Anyway, sorry, am a bit grumpy, didn't sleep well last night due to sore neck so it hurts to type (hence early physio visit this morning). I am not normally so touchy.

so does ds know what a cigarettE is now then ?
and that having a drink is not a crime ? and that occassionally going to the pub ia allowed ?

he certainly knows what a rabid flaming is now!

I think it is quite nice that the OP's children have been protected from some of the more unpleasant aspects of life (smoking and boozing).

And as for life being about "making choices" and giving children the information needed to make such choices - what guff.

What is required is leadership and moral education - anything else is a derogation of parental duty (in my humble opinion).

BarmyArmy

Come and do my job for 6 years, working in secondary schools and then you can give me a qualified opinion on what is guff - ok?

Ladyanonymous - all of 6 years??

One doesn't need to have done something to have an opinion on it. I have never taken hard drugs, yet I feel fully qualified to pass an opinion that they are harmful and not something I want my children to try.

Did I suggest that I go into secondary schools telling children how to use drugs?

We educate young people about the law, the long and short term effects, the risks, the consequences, and then let them make an educated choice rather than an uneducated one - because believe me - at some point a choice will be made as most kids will come across drugs, booze or ciggarettes at some stage in their adolescence.

One needs to know a little of what they are talking about to have an opinion on it or to dismiss a lot of peoples hard work as "guff".

My 9-year-old thinks smoking is "smelly and stupid" & I'm very happy with that, but she also knows not to comment on it. It's not only the politeness issue, it's the risk of getting thumped or worse!