Opinions on vaping around children?

[cindycated]

Strange, but I was just the opposite. By the time I got to an age where I thought about smoking, I couldn't have cared less what my parents did or didn't do. My father smoked and my mother didn't. It was totally irrelevant. My FRIENDS smoked. That's what convinced me. My parents didn't drink. Made no difference to me. My friends drank, so I drank. A kid no longer has an "impressionable little mind" once he's reached the age that smoking is a practical option for him. The fact that you don't smoke in front of a 10 year old is not what's keeping him from smoking, and by the time he's old enough to finagle or buy cigarettes himself, what you did in front of him when he was 10 won't make a whit of difference. Adults just can't stand to admit that their influence takes a nosedive and is supplanted by their kids' peers once the kid turns 12 or 13 or so. If they don't have a better reason not to do something than "mom and dad didn't", they're going to succumb to peer pressure. That's a guarantee.

Parents totally overestimate the impact described by the "modeling" theory on children when they're in their teens. Like it or not, by the time your kid is 13 or 14, it's a pretty done deal and your influence for the next 5 years or more will consist mainly on coercion and/or reason, not example. I was around plenty of grown ups, more than the average kid. I thought they were all cool right up to the age of 13 or 14. Then, they were all a bunch of pests and I had no interest whatsoever in their vices, or lack thereof. I was just as likely to do something because they didn't do it as I was because they did. Mostly though, it was irrelevant.

I'll say another thing. With few exceptions, if you hide your vices from your kid, you are more likely to do more harm than good. Kids aren't stupid. They'll know and that only adds to the attraction. Nothing a kid likes more than to do the things that must be so much fun they aren't even allowed to know about them.

I agree about the modeling theory thing - I'm nothing like my parents. And although I have much love and respect for them, I never thought of them as cool in a way that I'd want to emulate them - which is biting me in the ... now, but that's another story.

I was a youngster singer in my teens sneaking into clubs and hanging out with old jazz musicians when I first started smoking. But I do remember from much younger how cool it looked when my stepfather and his Navy buddies and their wives/girlfriends did it - that imagery kind of lingered. I have no kids of my own, but I hang out with quite a few whose parents say they emulate me when I'm not around. I guess those are the ones I'd be concerned about influencing. And that feeling extends out to other kids out there that might be attracted to something they see me doing. I'm a real dork now, but you never know what kid out there is gonna find something about you really cool, look up to you, and try to be just like you, down to your vices. And he/she probably won't be your own...so I just try to set a good example whenever I can.

 

[sherid]

Strange, but I was just the opposite. By the time I got to an age where I thought about smoking, I couldn't have cared less what my parents did or didn't do. My father smoked and my mother didn't. It was totally irrelevant. My FRIENDS smoked. That's what convinced me. My parents didn't drink. Made no difference to me. My friends drank, so I drank. A kid no longer has an "impressionable little mind" once he's reached the age that smoking is a practical option for him. The fact that you don't smoke in front of a 10 year old is not what's keeping him from smoking, and by the time he's old enough to finagle or buy cigarettes himself, what you did in front of him when he was 10 won't make a whit of difference. Adults just can't stand to admit that their influence takes a nosedive and is supplanted by their kids' peers once the kid turns 12 or 13 or so. If they don't have a better reason not to do something than "mom and dad didn't", they're going to succumb to peer pressure. That's a guarantee.

Parents totally overestimate the impact described by the "modeling" theory on children when they're in their teens. Like it or not, by the time your kid is 13 or 14, it's a pretty done deal and your influence for the next 5 years or more will consist mainly on coercion and/or reason, not example. I was around plenty of grown ups, more than the average kid. I thought they were all cool right up to the age of 13 or 14. Then, they were all a bunch of pests and I had no interest whatsoever in their vices, or lack thereof. I was just as likely to do something because they didn't do it as I was because they did. Mostly though, it was irrelevant.

I'll say another thing. With few exceptions, if you hide your vices from your kid, you are more likely to do more harm than good. Kids aren't stupid. They'll know and that only adds to the attraction. Nothing a kid likes more than to do the things that must be so much fun they aren't even allowed to know about them.

Thank God there is someone besides me who believes this. As for me, I started smoking specifically because my family were the original anti-smokers. They made such a big deal about the evils of smoking that to my young mind, it seemed very cool, so of course I started. Honestly, a parent's influence over a child's behavior quickly loses power at the onset of puberty. I never hid or apologized for smoking. Neither of my kids, now ages 23 and 19, have ever smoked. They are also, thank God, not judgmental against smokers.

 

[Cloud Wizard]

I started vaping because my kids wanted me to quitting smoking (which coincidentally I didn't think they knew about). I don't vape in front of them more so because while I'm proud of vaping from a "haven't had a smoke in 159 days" perspective, I still feel like I haven't broken free of the nicotine "habit". I do feel perfectly safe vaping in the house, just emotionally not ready to do it in front of them (my baggage not theirs...).

 

[Medieval Barber]

I agree with both points until puberty a parents example is important, but after puberty that impotence changes. Myself for example both my parents quit when I was born and smoking was a huge NO, but drinking was always openly done and was seen as ok in moderation, never been a heavy drinker because of that. So being a teenager who played music and looked up to musicians started smoking.

 

[neit]

I started vaping because my kids wanted me to quitting smoking (which coincidentally I didn't think they knew about). I don't vape in front of them more so because while I'm proud of vaping from a "haven't had a smoke in 159 days" perspective, I still feel like I haven't broken free of the nicotine "habit". I do feel perfectly safe vaping in the house, just emotionally not ready to do it in front of them (my baggage not theirs...).

I feel the same way. It's a peace of mind to know that they know I am smoking a less harmful cigarette. Eventually my goal is to quit smoking habit altogether. I know it's going to be hard because I enjoy vaping more.

 

[ShelleyF]

I smoked in front of my kids but not in the same room as them. I vape wherever they are because I don't think it is bad for them but they do hate the smell of the ejuice. I wonder why some people love it and some don't?

 

[jSmith]

I know my kids are absolutely thrilled that I don't smoke analogs anymore. I made a huge attempt not to smoke around them but they would hunt me down whenever I was out of sight and do the same when I vape so getting out of the house didn't help avoid exposure all that much (another reason I went to vaping).

What I can say about safety is this... both of my parents are extremely sensitive to cigarette smoke and will cough as soon as it gets near them. They try to keep it to themselves when they are at my house because they feel bad that I keep moving away to get out of their breathing space. Now that I vape, they both sit right with me when they come over and actually enjoy the scent that comes from my sweet flavors.

My mother has gotten blood tests at the doctors recently for a breathing issue that developed when the company she works for expanded (the construction debris was really getting to her) there was no nicotine or vapor related stuff found in her system (gladly, as soon as the construction was over, and everything settled, she was better). My dad, well he loves it. He used to smoke cigars "back in the day" and always liked the flavor but had to stop because it was bothering him. He tried my husband's (loaded up with french pipe flavor) and it didn't bother him at all. Now he wants to get a kit just for the old cigar feel (he really loves that he can get 0nic and just have the flavor and feel).

 

[tlmoody27]

I used to only smoke outside and away from my kids. I now vape in the house around my kids. They are older, 11 and 15 and it was no secret that I smoked cigarettes. They are glad that I'm not smoking but now am vaping and I have no problem vaping around them.

 

[CaptainDucky]

I don't think there has been a study on the exhaled vapor. I seem to recall seeing something, but I can't find it, so I may have just imagined it.

It is suggested that the exhaled vapor contains water, pg, VG, and trace amounts of flavoring and nicotine. I've seen it stated that 98% of the nicotine is absorbed from an analog cigarette, but I don't know if this can be extrapolated to e-cigs (my guess would be no).

As for my personal opinion, I feel that it is entirely safe to vape around kids. I think any trace amounts of nicotine would be less than they'd get eating certain vegetables. However, I don't vape around my kids, because I didn't smoke around them and I don't want to start modeling smoking-like behavior. I do vape in the house, either in a different room or when they are at school.

ETA: I actually wouldn't mind someone else vaping around my kids, because that someone else is not their mom. Do as I say, not as I do, LOL!

I completely agree, however I am not one to follow that for some reason. I did not smoke in front of my kids, however I have found that vaping I can't put it down. I really don't think it is modeling such bad behavior to show them that vaping is far better for you than smoking. In actuality it is really nothing more than "incense" and they love the flavors that are produced. So far none of them have decided to take up smoking nor vaping so I guess I am lucky. This too could change over time, however for now they don't even know there is "nic" in the flavoring. Neither of them have asked to try it either. I guess my wife keeps it evened out with her "disgust" of the whole thing. Honestly, you have the correct idea with do as I say, not as I do.....