smoking - WHY?!

[lmh2402]

admittedly, i'm in a rotten mood b/c work was tough today. and my mom had to leave a bit early, so i had to log off early.

so, in my rather grumpy mood, i decided that as my mom was walking out (she watches DS here at our apt), we would walk out with her and run a couple of quick errands

i pop DS in stroller and am powering through the crowds on the street - live across st from park and down block from school...lots of people milling around at this time of day

anyway, i get stuck behind a woman who is smoking. and all her smoke is drifting back into my face...and i'm assuming into DS's face

so this pissed me off immensely

plus i notice that she's holding the hand of a little girl - looked about 5. and that made me even more annoyed - exposing this kid to smoke (kid was calling her mommy)

and THEN, as i pass her, i see the infant in the bjorn strapped to her chest

she is puffing away over the teeny, tiny little head of a newborn

WTF!!!!????

i do not pretend to pass no judgment here.

i HATE smoking. hate it.

and i don't understand why what i observed is legal. child abuse is not legal, correct?

but poisoning your kids is ok? in my mind, there is zero question that this is a form of child abuse.

i hate people some times.

[infomama]

ITA. Even worse is when people smoke in cars...with the windows cracked a hair. I always feel so badly for those kids.

[elektra]

That's disgusting. Yes, I'm judging.

[maylips]

That's disgusting. Yes, I'm judging.

Agreed. Poor kiddos.

[Raidra]

Oh, that is so gross. Yuck. Those poor children.

Another annoyance: BRU employees smoking just outside the exit from the store. Yes, pregnant women and those with children love to walk through hazes of smoke.

Want to hear something funny? Last night was my sister's senior art show (she's graduating from art school). Huge crowd in front of the gallery, we're standing off to the side, and I'm there with all three kids holding hands or clinging to my legs, we're dressed up and looking nice. I'm 39 weeks pregnant and look it, and I had on my most maternity-looking outfit. This sleazy guy came up to me and asked if I had a cigarette. I glanced down at my bulging stomach, then to my children, back up at him and said, "No."

[Kitten007]

WTF!!!!????
i HATE smoking. hate it.

I totally agree. When I am out and someone is smoking in an area where kids are (and they aren't in the proper designated smoking zones), I always say something (like parks, amusement parks, etc.....). I know I am being a jerk, but I care more about the kids than their stupid disgusting habit.

[Andi98989]

I work in a small office building; it is our office of 25 people and a dozen or so people on another floor from a different company. No one from our office smokes, but about half of their office does. They tend to take their smoke breaks in groups. It is SO nasty getting into the elevator after they've recently come back. When I go to leave at night usually they're all outside having another quick one and inevitable it is drifting toward the door.

On May 1 our public smoking ban goes into effect, though - yay!!!! It will be nice to not have to worry about it when we go out to dinner. Not sure what kind of impact it will have in regards to people just smoking while walking around, though.

This new law bans smoking in most public places, including, but not limited to, indoor workplaces, indoor common areas of apartment and condominium buildings, restaurants and bars, hotel/motel guest rooms, shopping malls, bowling alleys, concert halls, arenas, museums, mechanic shops, health facilities, nursing homes, education facilities, and child care centers. Exemptions may be granted to cigar bars, tobacco specialty retailer stores, and the gaming floors of the casinos, after meeting certain requirements.

I've never smoked and don't have any idea why people do it. I've always wanted to ask someone why they're a smoker.

[catroddick]

This makes me angry and sick. How can a person do that to a baby? A child? Sick, nasty, wrong.

[BelleoftheBallFlagstaff]

I agree. Not appropriate at all!

[SnuggleBuggles]

Re. saying something at amusement parks...- I went to an amusement park last year and they played messages and had signs out that said, "as a courtesy to our smokers we have smoking areas throughout the park." Why should there be courtesy to them?! Bothers the crap out of me. I'm sorry they have a habit that they can not quit but their habit negatively affects me, my kids, our pleasure, etc..

eta- ITA with your thoughts on the mom and the poor baby and kid.
Beth