Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not want my son to be friends with a classmate who's parents smoke

203 replies

MooMooFarm · 19/10/2010 20:47

DS has recently made a new friend at infant school. I chatted to the mum in the playground; she was ok but I noticed straight away she smelt very strongly of cigarettes - she & the boy's dad take turns doing the school run and both of them always have a butt end in their hand (no exaggeration). DS invited the boy to his birthday party at a play centre, the mum & dad spent the whole time outside a pub opposite, pints in one hand, fags in the other.

The mum suggested they got together for a play date, so I invited her son (& her) to ours after school. DS wanted to travel in their car so he did, following my car. By the time they got to mine DS smelt of smoke too, so I can only assume she smokes in the car. She left her son at ours & collected him later, but honestly, just her son being in the house made our house stink of cigarettes.

Anyway so now she has asked when DS would like to go to hers, and I don't want him to. I am assuming because her son smells of smoke too, that they must smoke around him, in the car, in the house, whatever. I don't want DS to go there, because I don't have the balls to say 'yes but can you not smoke around my son please?'. I just want him to make a different friend.

Yes I am paranoid probably, but none of my family/friends smoke, and frankly I think it's a disgusting thing to do around children, and makes me wonder about somebody's parenting abilities in general TBH.

Sorry this is so long...

OP posts:
usualsuspect · 19/10/2010 21:04
Biscuit
MooMooFarm · 19/10/2010 21:04

well winny, that means 80% of the friends he could make won't have parents who smoke. I'd say the odds are pretty good there then Smile

OP posts:
isisandivan · 19/10/2010 21:04

I think i have the same views as you on this...My mother is a smoker and I'm thinking of not bringing my child into her house as she still questions me on why I'm asking her not to smoke around me whilst I'm pregnant.. I think I'm being way too extreme sometimes and doubt ill go through with it when the time comes!!

of course she will be able to see her when she is born but just either outdoors or at my house where i don't allow smoking indoors what-so-ever.

MooMooFarm · 19/10/2010 21:07

Ahh! Bella, no that's not what I meant, as I said just now, I originally said parents who smoke around their children, not who just smoke in general. Are you just getting all defensive because you're a smoker? And I don't see how passive smoking can be compared to not having a bath every night Confused

OP posts:
MoreCrackThanHarlem · 19/10/2010 21:07

Yanbu to want to keep your son away from smoky environments, I would not be happy sending my dc to travel in a smoke filled car to a smoke filled house

However- yabu to want to end the friendship.
Have the little boy round to your house and decline return invitations

BellasFormerFriend · 19/10/2010 21:08

Moomoo, no because there is nothing to say those 20% live together, there are plenty of households with one adult smoker meaning 20% of people would equal more than 20% of households

BellasFormerFriend · 19/10/2010 21:09

No I wasn't being defensive at all. I read it one way, when you questioned that I explained what I had understood and asked if that was what you had meant. Why would being a smoker make me defensive? I have given you a balanced response on your question haven't I?

MooMooFarm · 19/10/2010 21:10

Is there an emoticon to stick your tongue out and say nurh with?

OP posts:
dolphin13 · 19/10/2010 21:10

YANBU, I wouldn't let my children go in a car or house where people smoked.

I have a FC here at the moment who smokes. She has to go outside right away from the house to smoke. She has just come back in and as usual my hall stinks just from her walking in. The smell in her bedroom is horrible because her clothes smell. People who don't smoke never realise just how bad they do actually smell.

When it comes to smoking anywhere near children I have my judgy pants hitched right up. I would go so far as to say it is bad parenting to subject your children to passive smoking in any form. So go on flame away I'm in the mood. Grin

BellasFormerFriend · 19/10/2010 21:11

Grin don't think so! I wasn't trying to be clever though... just correct lol, sorry if it came out as up myself!

MooMooFarm · 19/10/2010 21:12

dolphin13 Smile Smile Smile

OP posts:
Remotew · 19/10/2010 21:12

You remind me of my ex neighbours. I smoked in my house, in the kitchen with the window open and they didn't like their little darlings coming into my house, it was OK when I was feeding them though. I thought it was very judgy.

DD never took up my bad habit but guess who did, yes the little darlings.

DunderMifflin · 19/10/2010 21:13

I'm not a smoker and know its obviously bad but i can't see how letting your child go and play for a couple of hours is going to do any damage?

Am prepared to be flamed for this!

TubbyDuffs · 19/10/2010 21:13

Can't say I'd be happy for my children to be playing in a smokey atmosphere.

Can you not just have him round at yours to play and avoid going round to theirs?

MooMooFarm · 19/10/2010 21:13

Bella - don't worry I still like you even if you're whiffy [emoticon of me holding my nose]

OP posts:
BellasFormerFriend · 19/10/2010 21:15

Hehe, sorry moomoo, I have just realised I am having a conversation with "the op" and also addressing moomoo further down the thread without realising that the op is moomoo Blush hope that explains why my responses seem disjointed! sorry!

MooMooFarm · 19/10/2010 21:16

abouteve - I don't see how; I don't want them to feed him anyway as they probably live on turkey twizzlers (JOKE!!)

OP posts:
BellasFormerFriend · 19/10/2010 21:17

Shock I am NOT smelly...well...

Wink Grin

MooMooFarm · 19/10/2010 21:17

I can smell you from here actually - bet you've just had one haven't you??? Grin

OP posts:
StephanieSays · 19/10/2010 21:18

I would not be happy if my dc played in a house where somebody was smoking indoors, especially not if in a car with my dc.

Agree that the smell of smoke lingers - when I get into the lift at work when people who have just gone out for a fag have been in it - it reeks.

I think you shouldn't stop the friendship, just invite the boy to play at yours.

Remotew · 19/10/2010 21:20

I used to give them Sunday roast, they loved it.

Tut, saying us smokers live on Turkey Twizzlers Grin.

spikeycow · 19/10/2010 21:20

I can't be bothered to flame you tonight but I want to.

UnlikelyFangazonian · 19/10/2010 21:21

Yes you are being utterly unreasonable, stuffy and selfish. You sound like Princess Anne after a tumble at Badminton.

Get a Life. Start smoking big fat cigars. Go rock pooling and fry up your shrimpy catch. Liven up ffs. Some of the most incredible people on earth have died because of smoking

Start teaching your dc the rudiments of Latin. Do something more bloody constructive than post such sanctimonious idiocy.

PS I have just removed my son from the ruinous surrounds of a bong. I am arabic.

ivykaty44 · 19/10/2010 21:23

whats an FC? all I can think is father christmas

spikeycow · 19/10/2010 21:23

Grin Grin

Swipe left for the next trending thread