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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that if you can't go without a cigarette for the length of a school trip, you should not volunteer as a parent helper?

105 replies

Greythorne · 02/12/2011 16:41

My DD went ice skating with her class this afternoon. They ask for parent helpers to get the kids togged out in their skating clothes, in ice skates and helmets. Everyone meets at the rink at 1.30 and they children get on a coach to go back to school at 3.15 so it's a total of one hour and forty five minutes.

AIBU in thinking if you cannot last that long without having a fag in full view of all the kids (twice, and that's in addition to the one she had oitside the rink out of view during the lesson) then you shouldn't volunteer.

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 02/12/2011 16:42

They would have been told to put it out and not allowed on another outing again if that was my son's school.

All helpers are told no smoking and no using mobile phones

SinicalSal · 02/12/2011 16:43

Cigs are not illegal, however distasteful you find them, and would you really rather no volunteer at all?
They probably saw loads of smokers already that day, on balance seeing another one in exchange for having someone to facilitate their trip is OK, imo.

usualsuspect · 02/12/2011 16:44

I'd need a fag to help get through helping out with a load of kids Xmas Grin

KatAndKit · 02/12/2011 16:44

YANBU, they should not be smoking in full view of the kids. There would be uproar if a teacher did this. Ok, the parent is a volunteer, but it is still setting a lousy example.

SinicalSal · 02/12/2011 16:45

Really worra? My kids are not at school yet, maybe times have changed that much! When we were at school the teacher used to send us to the shop to buy him his paper & fags. That was the 80's too.

Original poster
Greythorne · 02/12/2011 16:46

SinicalSal
Who said anything about being illegal ?

OP posts:
happystory · 02/12/2011 16:46

YANBU

purplewednesday · 02/12/2011 16:46

Oohh, is this in the village that used to have a coal mine until Maggie Thatcher closed it?

Original poster
Greythorne · 02/12/2011 16:46

I didn't say I was about to call the police, SinicalSal. But I just think abstaining for less than two hours is not a lot to ask.

OP posts:
SinicalSal · 02/12/2011 16:47

I did. They're not, and still up to the individual whether to indulge or not.

WorraLiberty · 02/12/2011 16:47

Sinical I'm 42 and I still remember being sent to the smoky staff room with a message for the teacher...and my Head Master used to wonder round smoking a pipe Grin

But that was when smoking was far more acceptable and it wasn't illegal to smoke in the work place.

SinicalSal · 02/12/2011 16:47

x posts.

Original poster
Greythorne · 02/12/2011 16:48

Sinical
it was a rhetorical question :)

OP posts:
7to25 · 02/12/2011 16:48

Forget the fags, I had to run into Starbucks for my caffeine fix. No six year old should witness my withdrawal symptoms.

countlessbabychams · 02/12/2011 16:49

I do think that kids should be allowed to view the world as it is without bubble wrap sometimes.

The helper came to help with getting the kids sorted so as long as this was done I don't see the problem.

AmberLeaf · 02/12/2011 16:49

My teacher used to chainsmoke at his desk [primary]

What will happen if a child sees a parent volunteer smoking? how is it different from seeing a member of the public smoking at for eg a bus stop?

I agree its not ideal but shes not exactly piping crack.

mollymole · 02/12/2011 16:49

YANBU

Hassled · 02/12/2011 16:50

YANBU. That's piss poor of smoking parent.

Jinsel · 02/12/2011 16:50

It's not something I'd have done when I smoked. Mainly because all the little darlings love to tell you how it's naughty to smoke and there's no answer to that is there?

CupOfGoodCheer · 02/12/2011 16:51

As a teacher, I'd have asked the parent helper to put it out.

slavetofilofax · 02/12/2011 16:51

I smoke, and I would never let the children I work with see me smoking. Nor would I let my children's friends or teachers see me smoking. I have helped on all day school trips before, and no matter how much I'm gasping for a fag by the end of the day, I wouldn't smoke. My own children don't even see me smoking that often.

YANBU

festi · 02/12/2011 16:51

Op YANBU I am a smoker and would not smoke doing a trip as short as that with my own dcs let alone a school trip. It is distasfull and massively inconsiderate of the helper.

I did however sneak off for a sly fag well out of sight of any of our children and any possible passerbys whilst on an all day trip with my dcs class.

SinicalSal · 02/12/2011 16:52

Smoking doesn't affect your cognitive skills, so that's not a problem. The only thing is the example that is being set, but like I say if it comes down to a smoking volunteer vs no volunteer at all I'd go with the helpful smoker. And ask them to nip out of sight, and say when they're going to make sure things are under control.

cumbria81 · 02/12/2011 16:52

I don't really think it's ideal but not a huge problem surely? As long as they weren't blowing smoke into the kids' faces, it's hardly the end of the world. YAB a bit uptight, imho.

sheepgomeep · 02/12/2011 16:53

I really cannot get worked up about this at all sorry... and I do not smoke.

worse things in life to worry about [shrug]