Here's the thing. Most, if not all of us, are ex-smokers or smokers and we should ALL be aware of how smokers in our lives, whether relatives, friends or whatever, had an impact on us.
When I was growing up I had a few relatives who were smokers, and I always thought it was so cool. But since I was too young to legally smoke, it became this taboo thing for me. I liked it because I wasn't allowed to do it, and it also has this mysteriousness around it. I loved the smell of cigs, and always liked being around those who were smoking. Smoking seemed like a really 'grown up' thing to do, and as a kid who wants to grow up so they can do all the fun things adults can, is a deadly combo.
One year my family went on a camping trip, and my brother, who was of legal smoking age, was smoking in our car on the trip (just me and him in one vehicle, my parents in another). I tell you, I can still remember the smell of his Marlboro menthols like it was yesterday, and driving around with him, fishing with him, and going on hikes with him as he smoked was one of the most memorable experiences of my life.
As a consequence of this and many other encounters with smokers as a child, I became a smoker. I smoked before I was of legal age, but once I turned 18 I was neck deep. Smoked the very same Marlboro menthols my brother did.
Keep in mind that the harmful second-hand smoke from cigs is only half the battle when it comes to kids. You may think that the vapor is harmless therefore it is ok to vape around children, but those kids still look up to you as adults, and even if they know you are vaping and not smoking, they will be influenced by it, and will have an extremely high chance of becoming a smoker or vaper themselves. Vaping also has a pretty strong smell, and if kids are smelling you vape cherry bubblegum, they will be even more inclined to try it out themselves. The smell and visual aspects of smoking/vaping are only part of the puzzle, the other part is purely psychological.
Monkey see monkey do pretty much sums up children. You can educate them all you want on the dangers/habit forming nature of smoking or vaping, but they have ideas in their little minds that you may be completely unaware of. And the more they are exposed to vaping/smoking, the more it builds up in their mind that it is something they want to try out.
Also those of you who like to vape in really public places, like inside restaurants, keep this in mind as well. You may be influencing other peoples children whether you are aware of it or not. If most adults think you are smoking a cig, then the kids will know even less that it is just vapor. Those kids may think you are cool, and may think the smell of the vapor is awesome. And someday may try vaping, or smoking, out themselves because they have been exposed to it and developed ideas in their heads about it.
Just keep that in the back of your mind folks, vaping second-hand may be harmless, but try to see it from the perspective of a child and understand how you are influencing them. You may not be harming them physically with second-hand smoke, but that isn't the only thing you need to worry about.
