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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To feel repulsed by sons girlfriend smoking

234 replies

Reookay · 20/11/2025 00:04

DS is 29, his gf is 25, they have been together for about 6 months and at the weekend I met her for the first time.
She hosted us for dinner, made a lovely meal and she seems nice enough personality wise. She is Franco-Italian, English is her 3rd language so conversation definitely felt a little forced which I expected.
Anyway she smokes, DS has reassured she’s not a chain smoker but will have one or two cigarettes in the evening. Her flat was lovely but she smokes out of her kitchen window which is open plan to the dining and living space, there was a faint scent of cigarette smoke and it made me feel a little unwell.
I told one of my friends about this and said it made me feel a bit repulsed, not by her as a person but by the smoking and the scent. They all said it’s cultural (I mean I’m not sure it is I have lots of French friends who don’t smoke, though I do appreciate it is maybe more common in continental Europe than here in the UK), and actually a bit sexy. I just don’t understand how it could ever be viewed as sexy or anything other than a little bit disgusting.
I like her as a person, even if I didn’t I’d still be lovely to her as it’s ultimately up to DS who he dates. However it does worry me a little as DS has really bad health anxiety, he’s had to receive therapy for it and I’m just not sure an actively unhealthy happy will be good for him mentally?
DS also joked that she can’t go to bed without having a drink, be it a negroni or a glass of wine or something similar. I pointed out to him that not being able to go a day without a drink doesn’t sound very healthy (privately) but he rebutted it’s only one drink, she’s not an alcoholic, she just likes her “personal rituals”.

AIBU to find her smoking repulsive and think her habits are quite unhealthy?
Obviously it’s none of my business but just trying to figure out if my feelings towards it are even reasonable.

OP posts:
raspberryberet2020 · 20/11/2025 22:23

Imdunfer · 20/11/2025 11:43

I am laughing myself silly about the idea that health worries relating to smoking is made up.

I also think there is a huge red flag about anyone who can't settle for the night without an alcoholic drink, every night.

The amount of stick this worried mother has got for being judgemental is insane!

Yeah, it's just the usual scumsnet pile on, unfortunately.

OP is entitled to her perfectly normal, non controversial views. The only thing I would say is she shouldn't talk to her son about it, it will only get him defensive, and it is his choice to make, after all.

She does need to avoid visiting the smoker's home and just stay in neutral places which are nearly all smoke free anyway. It's unlikely they'll end up together long term, and if so that's a problem for another day.

Sourdillpicklesandmore · 20/11/2025 23:27

Yeah, it's just the usual scumsnet pile on, unfortunately

That’s a bit rude. Loads of us have given constructive answers.

Some have agreed with op.

But just bc the majority of posters have read the op and reached the conclusion that the op is on balance being too judgemental, doesn’t necessarily equate to a pile on, it can also be objective genuine opinion based on the information provided.

And op did ask on AIBU!

raspberryberet2020 · 21/11/2025 02:46

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Sourdillpicklesandmore · 21/11/2025 03:34

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Eh? I don’t feel triggered or targeted bc I very rarely feel those things. Anyway, why would I when I was simply expressing a view that you are being impolite bc there have been lots of genuine answers on here?

raspberryberet2020 · 21/11/2025 03:54

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SageSorrelSaffron · 21/11/2025 05:43

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You, sir, are a Scumsnetter!
Welcome to the club.

raspberryberet2020 · 21/11/2025 07:01

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SageSorrelSaffron · 21/11/2025 07:36

But you’re here too. You can’t be posting on Scumsnet, and simultaneously think that I post here, therefore I am a scumsetter, and you post here and somehow aren’t.

I have no problem being a Mumsnetter - I feel no rage, only bemusement, that you would think some randomer on the internet cares what you think!

The people reading this are laughing at you. I have no idea who you are, but if I had to guess I would say your an abuser who has been dumped because your ex got solace and support here. You certainly read like my abusive ex, he used call it Scumsnet too.

raspberryberet2020 · 21/11/2025 08:31

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