Jacob's Smoking habit

jacobsmama wrote: Yeah you read it right...My little smoker

He has been pretending to smoke like daily I don't smoke but DH does and his whole family does. He does everything from packing the ciggarettes to pulling one out of the pack to smoking it...IMAGINARY OF COURSE. But I'm getting concerned..I will say what are you doing honey? And he will say smoking ciggarrettes mom...I'M LIKE WHAT??? that is nasy, that is yucky, that is bad. He laughs. I tried ignoring it but he is still doing it.

What would you do with my little smoker? (so not funny )

CosmetologyMommy replied: Maybe u can show him a book that shows what happens when u smoke, like black lungs, yellow teeth, etc.

1lilpeanut2love replied: OMG!! That is kinda funny! I hope he doesn't turn into a smoker! Does your DH smoke around him???

jacobsmama replied:
You don't think that is kinda harsh since he is only 2?? I keep thinking this is just stage that will pass

AM I WRONG???

CosmetologyMommy replied: I do not know if this is encouraging it but maybe the bubble gum cigs? just so he will stop taking them out of ur dh's pack.

C&K*s Mommie replied: Reinforce it everytime that cigs are bad news, maybe not as far as he can see, but in the long run they are.

jacobsmama replied:
NO DH only smokes outside but his whole family smokes and he seems to do this when he is bored.. I'm just smoking mom that is what he says

jacobsmama replied:
NO NO NO He doesn't take them out of DH pack he has his own "PRETEND PACK" And that is how he smokes... OH my I've lost it

CosmetologyMommy replied: sorry! misunderstood what u wrote! I get it now!

1lilpeanut2love replied: Well, I am glad he smokes outside. My SO smokes too, but he smokes outside too and not in the car when Kay's in it!! I hope she never does things like that!! Most of my mom's side of the family smoke too! I am the only one. I hate smoking!!

Maybe he is going through a phase or something. Mocking things you all do!!

CosmetologyMommy replied:
me too! My dh smokes too and he smokes outside but I hate when he holds aidan reeking of cigarettes. most of my friends smoke too but they never smoke in front of Aidan.

1lilpeanut2love replied: I hate the smell of cigs. They are awful!! I make Michael wash his hands before he holds or touches Kay after smoking. That is one of the grossest smells. I hope I am not offending anyone by saying that!!!

Brias3 replied: I think the less attention you pay, the faster it will fizz out. He's only two after all, so the interest will die out if you don't show it any. When he does "pretend smoke", I'd just say, "Oh gross, that's so yucky" or something similar but short and leave it at that. My 2-year old is big into the copying thing too now and it really fizzles quickest if I make little to no reaction.

luvmykids replied:
ITA with Bria. Also, if he says "But daddy does it" or something you can tell him it's only for adults and it makes you sad to see him doing something yucky.

jacobsmama replied: Thanks everyone this is what I have been doing..I hope he quits this soon.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: I hope Jacob quits his smoking habit soon.

I know it isn't funny, but there are kids who will do this at any age...whethere they are around smokers or not. Jacob is just trying to relate to the male figure in his life and at this age, they want to feel like they are big and someone else said it, it's when they start mimicking things we do. You might also see him pick up a broom and start sweeping floors. It's the same thing.

Please don't worry about it. This doesn't mean he will grow up with a smoking habit. And I wouldn't show him pictures of the teeth and lungs or even tell him "smokers die" b/c his daddy does smoke and that will frighten him. He's way too young for that.

I do think you need to work on your hubby to quit smoking though. I know that's a hard thing to do, but it would be better on everyone, especially him.

jacobsmama replied:
Thank you Aimee that is what I needed to hear. Dh is working on smoking but is struggling. I also thought the other stuff would scare him. THanks again!

Maddie&EthansMom replied: I'm glad he is working on it. I can understand how difficult it would be. I can't imagine trying to quit...it takes a lot of willpower that I don't possess that's for sure.

I forgot to add that my parents didn't smoke and I wasn't directly around anyone who did, but it is everywhere. We used to buy those candy cigarettes and pretend to be smoking. I think a lot of kids go thru this and it is pretty normal. Needless to say, it didn't stir a smoking habit in me...I've never smoked a cigarette in my life. Well, a real one anyway.

kimberley replied:
i agree!

punkeemunkee'smom replied: ITA with Aimee! Kids mimic MANY behaviors at this age and being too graphic with him would be more scary for him than anything! LOTS of things in the world can make you sick or cause you harm-he will grow out of it when he finds something even more fun to emulate!

luvmykids replied:
Tell him to join us on April 17 .... YIKES its close! Then he can at least have others in the same boat as him.

EvesMom replied: I don't think he is really old enough to "know what smoking really is". I would just tell him that's for big people only, for now. Then when he is older, have a real talk with him about the dangers of smoking.