to ask what stopped you smoking cigarettes as a teenager

[norbettsauntie]

This is in the hope that you can give me some ideas on how to discourage my DS 15 from smoking cigarettes. I think he has one on the way to and from school and then one when he makes some excuse to "just pop down the shops" during the evening. (he's been spotted by my friends). DH and I don't smoke and he's not flush with money.

Lots of my friends smoked but neither of my parents did and it was clearly not allowed in our house (although they never openly mentioned it). I always thought it stunk so was never tempted.

Then when I was 15, I watched my chian-smoking, heavy-drinking uncle slowly and painfully die of throat cancer in his mid 50s. That really did put me off smoking for life.

I am a sucker for chocolate though - none of us are perfect!

Another one who could not have been stopped as a teenager.

I started at 12, smoked until I got pregnant with DC1, started again when she was 6m, quit for DC2, started again, had life-threatening asthma attack when he was 2 and quit, had DC3, started again after 3.5 years off them...

I love smoking. It's a Bad Thing.

I smoked when I was 14. My parents found out (adult cousin saw me) and let me stew on it for a while. Then one night my dad came in to say good night and said: we know you're smoking and there's nothing we can do to stop you, but we think you're stupid.

Is your DS vain about anything? Looks, intellect? I was proud of being clever and especially of being clever in my lovely dad's eyes. Worked a charm for him. I stopped smoking the next day.

I think he has one on the way to and from school and then one when he makes some excuse to "just pop down the shops" during the evening. (he's been spotted by my friends). DH and I don't smoke and he's not flush with money.

Ask if you can come on the trip to the shops and have a sneeky smoke as well?

I am sure it will put him of smoking if his mum wants to come to and have a smoke - nothing cool about your none smoking mum wanting to tag along

I bet he would be horrified and it isn't reversed physcology as much as really making it all a bit odd

I grew up surrounded by heavy smokers. That was enough to put me off ever starting. The Walls and ceilings were stained and my hair and clothes always stank even though they were clean.
I know how you feel, my dd(16) smokes and nothing you say or do will work. I have tried everything to get her to stop. I have given up lecturing her now, I gave one final speech about all the side effects etc and what it is actually doing to her. Told her I pitied her because eventually my hair, skin and teeth would look younger that her if she carries on. I am devastated that she still does it but had to learn to deal with it because it was so upsetting.
She gets her braces off next week and has asked if she can have her teeth whitened. I told her she was having a laugh, money down the drain and all that!
You are not alone, loads of us feel the same as you.:(

twins one smokes and one doesn't

For me it was the fear of becoming addicted.

My aunt died of lung cancer - although she never smoked a day in her life. That put me off a bit.

But the main reason I didn't smoke was my best friend who smoked said I couldn't start as she wouldn't wish the addiction on anyone. That worked. Plus she refused to buy cigs for me.
Not that is much help to you.

Cats bum mouth and yellow teeth. I am vain! But also it tastes horrible, and who wants to kiss that?

If he's a 15 year old boy, tell him that smoking is known to be one of the major causes of erectile dysfunction, can cause permanent impotency and decreases sperm count/quality/mobility etc. But none of this will matter, because if he smokes most people won't want to kiss him anyway as his mouth will taste like an ashtray.

The smell always has and always will disgust me. I actively avoid smokers (within reason), I'm not friends with any smokers and I don't think that is an accident. I can't imagine ever wanting to spend an extended period of time with someone either smoking or with the smell of stale smoke clinging to them.

HappySquirrel - I'm the same, I even avoid spending too much time with my family because I find it so off-putting. Can't remember the last time I hugged or kissed my mum or sister. I just can't help it, I can't stand the smell.

My mum smoked, so I stunk despite being a non smoker! That was enough to keep me off them.

I always thought it revolting and hated the smell that came from smokers.

The only thing which made me think twice were the photos of how it ages your skin and gives you wrinkles.
Made me give up temporarily, but only being pregnant actually stopped me at 33. I had been smoking since I was 16.

That it was a sign of stupidity. Everyone knows that smoking is bad. When our parents were kids, they didn't have the information we have now so you can understand them starting then getting hooked, but to start now when we all know it's terrible for your health is like saying, look at me I'm a complete idiot.

And vanity. It ages the skin horribly. This works well on girls.

Nothing unfortunately. I was a very enthusiastic smoker from the age of 14 until I was 34.

What finally made me stop was the thought of having to explain to my DH that I had a terminal illness caused by smoking. I don't know if that would work on a teenager though, I thought I was immortal at that age.

Nothing, I still smoke, but keep trying to give up and believe one day I will. In the old days they made kids smoke a whole pack until they were sick (probably and urban myth) but that is not something you would want to put your child through. It's a tough one. At that age the peer group has more influence unfortunately. Lots of my friends gave up in their 20's and the majority of us who haven't want to (I'm 33), so there is hope. One girl at school was offered 2K by her parents if she didn't smoke by the age of 21. That worked :)

Both sets of grandparents smoked. I disliked their houses as a child - opening the door and walking into the fog, the yellow stained walls and ceiling. My grandad used to cough until he blacked out (he was v anti smoking for a smoker and used to beg me not to smoke)

My parents didn't smoke and my friends didn't. Have never even put a cigarette in my mouth. Avoided smoky atmospheres.

How do people not know kids smoke? I can smell it a mile off.

I caused trouble for BIL at a family party. I'd brought the cake and candles and my SIL was looking for a lighter - I said oh I didn't bring one as I knew BIL would have his. His girlfriend piped up BIL doesn't smoke. I thought she was joking at first as BIL smokes like a trooper - they left hasily afterwards. She is a non smoker - how can she not smell it on him?

I had a trachy tube due to an obstructed airway and have a large scar - although not caused by smoking hope will hit home to DD how serious breathing conditions can be ( she knows why my scar is there - that it was done to save my life)

My foundation and moisturiser don't contain sunscreen because they think their customers fear cancer, they contain sunscreen because they know their customers fear bad skin.

smoking (in contained areas, but dont mention this if he smokes outside) causes spots. So any spots on his face , blame on the smoking. (the dirt from the smoke blocks pores).

Teenagers live for now, wrinkles, cancer etc are are off in the future. Spots and smelling bad are a problem now.