Crap other parents do that I can’t stand {Mama Kat’s Writing Prompts}

This week for Mama Kat’s weekly writing prompts I am picking:

4.) Name a pet peeve you have about how other parents raise their kids. Go on…stir the pot.

It takes a special kind of awful for me to judge another parents choice in raising their children.  Honestly, I don’t know them, they don’t know me, I try really hard not to judge. I don’t judge you when your child is dirty, it happens.  I don’t judge you when you have a different parenting style than me – it’s what works for you.  I don’t judge you when your nanny spends more time with your kids than you do.  That is your life.

But when I look over while driving and see a car full of children and the parents in the front driving and smoking (windows cracked or open) – let me tell you – I not only judge you, I consider that child abuse and neglect.

Seriously people, the research is out there, and it is bad.

• secondhand smoke is actually more harmful than the 1st hand smoke, and is known to contain 69 chemicals that cause cancer.
• secondhand smoke is a direct cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.
• secondhand smoke causes heart disease, SIDS, ear infections, asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and other childhood illnesses.
• secondhand smoke is deadly. There is NO safe level of 2nd hand smoke

So basically by lighting up in front of your child you are significantly increasing the probability of illness and death.  Child Neglect is defined by the childhood abuse prevention and treatment act as depriving a child of their basic needs. These include food, clothing, warmth and shelter, emotional and physical security and protection, medical and dental care, cleanliness, education, and supervision.  Your child has a basic need to be taken care of in a healthy environment, and one that is filled with smoke is not a healthy environment.

Oh, and before you get all riled up, I actually was a smoker for 12 years.  But that was my choice.  Quitting was an easy choice when I knew we were bringing a child into this world. I would never subject my child to an environment of secondhand smoke.  In fact, family members who smoke are required to wash and change their clothing before coming in contact with the Little Dude.

Did I mention Little Dude has severe asthma?  Did you know your secondhand smoke particles last on your clothing for 4-6 hours past your last smoke?  Those particles trigger asthma in children very quickly.

I am not judging a parent’s right to smoke. If you want to do that, fine.  Just don’t do it in front of your children, and certainly not in an enclosed area.

Facts Credits