My 11 year old made me feel like a total a## for vaping

[aubergine]

This is actually an easy one, and important.
Tell him that you used to smoke and you use it to help you quit. It's the simple truth, right?
And tell him nicotine's a stupid habit and to never, ever to start it; also tell him ecigs are ONLY to help people who have quit smoking. Sadly note that it's really hard for people to stop nicotine - at 11 he knows what addiction is - and that it's totally lame but the best you can do, and at least you're not smoking. I'm fine with my grandkids being turned off by the whole thing, I encourage that, and you'll not find a stronger ecig enthusiast than me. I love it.
But it's for people who need a cigarette replacement only. Never make any addiction sound like anything but bummer.
Save your flavor excitement and gizmo excitement and all for the forum.

 

[DiNet]

This is actually an easy one, and important.
Tell him that you used to smoke and you use it to help you quit. It's the simple truth, right?
And tell him nicotine's a stupid habit and to never, ever to start it; also tell him ecigs are ONLY to help people who have quit smoking. Sadly note that it's really hard for people to stop nicotine - at 11 he knows what addiction is - and that it's totally lame but the best you can do, and at least you're not smoking. I'm fine with my grandkids being turned off by the whole thing, I encourage that, and you'll not find a stronger ecig enthusiast than me. I love it.

Didn't work on me... lectured and punished for smoking... Can't see ecig becoming the cool kids gadgets tho. Cigarettes are something else... there was no pressure ever, there was only The Cool Kids from high school are smoking, I want to be cool kid and touch boobs!
And my crush from 9th grade was smoking I was just a kid in 5th grade...
Parents are not smokers btw, so nothing from that side...

 

[mpkeith]

- at 11 he knows what addiction is -

If that's in there as a response (of sorts) to my post I only meant as actually 'being addicted' versus the idea or concept. Yes, I agree an 11 yo would know the idea but would not likely have experienced addiction to anything.

Sent from right here using Tapatalk 2

 

[NewportLights]

I had already been smoking on and off for 2 years by 11. I was just about at the point of becoming a "real" smoker around 11. Definitely by 7th grade I would have thought going to school without my cigarettes was crazy.

At least there is time for him to see he doesn't need vaping or at least if you try it why on Earth vape anything with nicotine if you aren't addicted to it already. Better he is curious about the e cig then the real cigs. He would probably gag trying an analog after an e-cig. I think the next generation might look at analogs like we did at unfiltered Lucky Strikes! Hopefully he will see there is no good reason to start a nicotine addiction and at least he doesn't have an interest in the analogs.

 

[Orobas]

I remember when my daughter was 3 and she said when she grows up she can smoke and say naughty words like me. I about choked.

eh, well. I'm pretty sure that's what happens when anything that's "GROANUPS ONLY" is mystified like that.

Meh, reason number 157 why there won't be any baby zebras running around. Nobody'll be able to blame me for their choices one way or the other.

 

[starr1349]

I don't know what to say about this. I think the best thing you can do is give your kid the peer pressure talk. Make sure he has the skills to deal with the peer pressure. Make sure he realizes that just because someone else does something does not mean he has too.
I would also make sure my child knows that following the "in" crowd isn't that great, look what it did for the lemmings

 

[JinnMyst]

If I ever have a child and still be vaping, I would do it in secret and work on quitting vaping all together ASAP.

Vaping is just as cool for kids as smoking, (blowing smoke is fascinating, isn't it?)

Not trying to be a perfectionist, and I'm not at all.. But this idea had crossed my mind before.. I'd keep the stash secret, and only vape in my room or in the bathroom.

Good luck to you and your child

 

[aubergine]

If that's in there as a response (of sorts) to my post I only meant as actually 'being addicted' versus the idea or concept. Yes, I agree an 11 yo would know the idea but would not likely have experienced addiction to anything.

I meant, of course, that at 11 he'd have heard of it. I was only responding to the original post.

 

[Orobas]

If I ever have a child and still be vaping, I would do it in secret and work on quitting vaping all together ASAP.

Vaping is just as cool for kids as smoking, (blowing smoke is fascinating, isn't it?)

Not trying to be a perfectionist, and I'm not at all.. But this idea had crossed my mind before.. I'd keep the stash secret, and only vape in my room or in the bathroom.

Good luck to you and your child

And you don't think that being secretive about it will only mystify the experience more?

There's no way to win. If you do it openly it's seen as normal and the habit is taken up. If you're doing it secretively, it's mystified and the habit is taken up out of curiousity.

I'll just get a kitten. Successful reproduction is too complicated.

 

[Salt&PePPer]

I had more peer pressure to smoke in my 20s & 30s than I did when I was a youth!

 

[JinnMyst]

And you don't think that being secretive about it will only mystify the experience more?

There's no way to win. If you do it openly it's seen as normal and the habit is taken up. If you're doing it secretively, it's mystified and the habit is taken up out of curiousity.

I'll just get a kitten. Successful reproduction is too complicated.

I've already said I'd quit vaping all together!

Gosh..!

 

[sherid]

My parents were both non-smokers/anti-smokers. I started at 17. I don't think there is much you can do to stop what teens are determined to do. You may THINK that your good example will keep them from doing it. It won't if that's what they want to do. You may THINK that threats and punishment will keep them from doing it. It may keep them from letting you know that they do it, but if for some reason they decide to smoke , they will do it no matter what you say or do. It's the way it has always been and the way it will always be.

 

[Los Marauder]

With my kids I always stress "choices in bad situations".

In a bad situation? Pick the best choices you can.

Smoking, drugs, alchohol, sex, ect. May lead to a bad situation, but maybe not at first. As soon as one realizes a bad situation exists atack it with thought and reality.

I tell 'em this is what becomes wisdom.

 

[Stormlark]

The first time my nine-year-old nephew saw me vaping, he calmly said to me, "Don't do that around me unless you want to kill me." I've tried explaining the difference between smoking and vaping, as well as leaving the immediate vicinity when vaping, but he still freaks out if he knows I've used my PV anywhere in the same house. I'll have taken a puff in the guest bedroom, walk back to the kitchen and he'll be standing there covering his nose and complaining about how much it "reeks." Not a single person has told me they can smell the exhaled vapor, and I ask just about everyone I use it around to make sure I'm not bothering them. Precocious little squirt, ain't he?

 

[gamadnechmad]

My little is 4. I've told her that my "vape stuff" isn't to be touched because it has nicotine in it - which is very bad for children. She told me she would have pretty stuff to vape with when she's a grownup.

I will talk with her over the years about what nicotine, caffeine, alcohol etc. will do to her body in large/constant quantities. We'll talk about what addiction is. I'll hope that some of what I say will stick...

In the end, I just hope she'll let me know what she's decided to try...decided she likes... Hey OP - we're parents - we give them our opinion and cross our fingers!! ...and hope they listen better than we did... I firmly believe that we're setting a good example by quitting smoking. If the worst you do in front of a child is vape - I'm sure you should not be vilified. Just take a deep breath and be an awesome mom!!