What's Your Take on Smoking

[misol]

Strong opinion

As a parent I would immediately pull my children from an in-home provider who was a smoker or had smokers in the home. I would also make certain to ask if there were any smokers in the home before enrolling there. Even if they didn't smoke inside the house I wouldn't want any parts of it. I don't want me or my children to have to walk through the "cloud" every time we enter and exit the home. I wouldn't want a provider whose hair and clothes reek of smoke snuggling my child. I wouldn't want a smoking provider hacking and coughing up their left lung around my child every day. and I wouldn't want my child to see this person smoking every day as children are very impressionable.

I am a provider who does not smoke. In my initial interviews I ask parents if they smoke or if there are any smokers in the home. I will not knowingly accept a child who comes from a smoking household (even if the smoker doesn't smoke inside the house). I would not want to snuggle or have much physical contact with a child whose hair and clothes reeked of smoke. In addition, I would not want my home smelling like smoke as a result of this child and his belongings being there.

I don't think that smokers are bad people - they just have a disgusting habit that negatively affects their own health and the health of others. Smoking is a personal decision but it's a public problem.

IMHO, I think that the quality of care children receive from a smoking provider can be affected if a provider smokes. Breathing issues may limit the persons physical ability to engage in certain activities with the kids, they are likely to need more sick time than a healthy, non-smoking provider, and frequent smoke breaks may mean that they children are left unattended more often than a parent would like. Not saying that this is the case for all smoking providers - just giving examples. I know that plenty of other situations/conditions/habits/illnesses can fall under this unmbrella but this thread is specifically about smoking.

[dEHmom]

Great points Misol.

I agree as a parent, if you are asking questions like what are your rates, hours etc, you should also be asking about the smoking aspect. Maybe it slips the mind of parents, but that's like forgetting to ask if they have any experience in child care...

[Abigail]

Is choosing a smoke-free home really discrimination? I don't think so, but I haven't actually checked. I'm allergic to smoke and can't be near anyone who does smoke. My mom smoked in our house growing up until the end of elementary school, then she went to stinkin up the garage in the next houses we lived in. I agree that kids are more likely to smoke if they grow up watching someone smoke. Both of my sisters started smoking in middle school and both STILL DO. They both have kids and smoke around them and I absolutely find it nasty! I'm the only one allergic to the smoke itself and whenever I visit them they ask if they can stop someone (gas station or stand outside of walmart) to lite up for a minute. It's just gross. The other sad issue is that one of their kids wasn't even in elementary school and I asked where is mom and they responded "She's outside having a cancer stick"!

I would never want my kids around someone who smokes. It's the choice of health. Who wants rotten cigarette fingers rocking your child to sleep? If a child came from a smoking home, I would just let them know that the child can not arrive everyday smelling of smoke. I would only have issues if they smoke in the house, but I would still take a child from a smoking family--at least it gives them those hours during the day to be smoke free.

[dEHmom]

I think what I meant by the discrimination is very hard to describe. I don't mean just choosing not to use someone because they smoke. I meant it in a way like, if they are very responsible about it, and basically if they hid it so well, that you NEVER would have known, other than one day lets say you saw them outside a mall and they were having a smoke or something. Just hypothetically speaking, if I was a casual smoker, having the odd one if I'm out drinking or something. And you saw that, it wouldn't be fair to pull your child out of care just because. But at the same time, I would never place my child in a dayhome/daycare if I knew that person smokes regularly, in front of children, in the home, etc etc. If they never smelt of it, and I had no idea, and the kids were none the wiser, then it's a different story.

[Abigail]

I think what I meant by the discrimination is very hard to describe. I don't mean just choosing not to use someone because they smoke. I meant it in a way like, if they are very responsible about it, and basically if they hid it so well, that you NEVER would have known, other than one day lets say you saw them outside a mall and they were having a smoke or something. Just hypothetically speaking, if I was a casual smoker, having the odd one if I'm out drinking or something. And you saw that, it wouldn't be fair to pull your child out of care just because. But at the same time, I would never place my child in a dayhome/daycare if I knew that person smokes regularly, in front of children, in the home, etc etc. If they never smelt of it, and I had no idea, and the kids were none the wiser, then it's a different story.

I totally agree. I'm not a drinker or smoker. Never even tried anything. (Sure hope my kids --when they are born--choose the same!)

[marniewon]

I'm really trying not to be offended here, and I know most (if not all) are trying really hard to NOT be offensive, but I guess I really am.

I'm a smoker. I'm also a professional daycare provider. The people making comments about pulling their kids immediately if they knew their provider smoked - what do you think we do? Light up in the playroom during circle time?!? I do not smoke in the house. I never smoke anywhere the kids could see me. I always use a strong mint and wash my hands after. There are no cigarette butts laying around my yard. I never leave the kids unattended, my breaks are only when my "assistants" are here and helping. The care I give my dck's is never compromised because I smoke. I've missed ONE day since starting daycare, and that was from the stomach flu I caught from one of the kids. My dckids are way sicker than I ever am. We take walks, I chase them around outside, I play on the floor occasionally with them. I don't have a problem keeping up with the kids. I would bet that none of my parents know I smoke, and I interact with them and their children every day. If they were to ask me point blank, I would tell them yes. I would not lie, have never lied about it, it has just never come up. I do not smell like smoke, my kids do not go home smelling like smoke.

[QualiTcare]

i'm not "a smoker" but i have been known to smoke when i'm drinking - and i smoked sometimes when i was in college. there was a time when i was smoking a cig. on the way to work and again on a break between classes.

this girl that we liked to call a "goody goody" was a friend of mine and we sat next to each other in 2-3 classes. one day she was like "i didn't know u smoked" and i said, yeah, i shouldn't but i guess im bored on my break blah blah. she said, "hmm, i've never smelled it. i always smell smoke." i always washed my hands when i came inside/before i went to class and had a mint or gum out of courtesy to others and i didn't want to smell - plus, it's not really something people approve of from ppl in the teaching program and i wasn't proud of it. i can safely say she was one of those "i can smell smoke from a mile away people" and may have not even been my friend had she known i smoked beforehand. she only found out bc she saw me standing outside when she was walking to class. i was also working at a daycare where my director was shocked to find out i was smoking because she was another "i can smell smoke from a mile away person" and she found out bc she pulled into the parking lot one day and saw me standing by my car. her 11 year old son was with her and she said he was like "i didn't know she smoked!" and i worked with him every day. the only reason he saw me is bc he was the director's son bc i hid it from the kids. they would even say things like "smoking is bad, i know you'd never smoke" and of course i'd agree. so, the only ppl in my professional life who ever knew i smoked were people who physically saw me doing it - and they were shocked.

btw, i don't smoke now unless i've had one too many drinks which isn't often.

[Lucy]

In my state we must be a non-smoking household to be licensed. If your state is the same, you just call licensing and report her.

[QualiTcare]

I would not want to snuggle or have much physical contact with a child whose hair and clothes reeked of smoke. In addition, I would not want my home smelling like smoke as a result of this child and his belongings being there.

if someone doesn't smoke in the home or around their children then their child/belongings wouldn't smell like smoke and certainly couldn't make your house smell.

[marniewon]

In my state we must be a non-smoking household to be licensed. If your state is the same, you just call licensing and report her.

Yes, that only applies to the HOUSE. In MI you can't smoke in any public building/business (this includes daycare) during business hours. But they can't tell you that if you EVER smoke ANYWHERE or a member of your household EVER smokes ANYWHERE that you can't be licensed. IF you (or a member of your household) smokes inside the house, outside of business hours, you can STILL be licensed, you just have to disclose that info to all interviewing families.

[Lucy]

Yes, that only applies to the HOUSE. In MI you can't smoke in any public building/business (this includes daycare) during business hours. But they can't tell you that if you EVER smoke ANYWHERE or a member of your household EVER smokes ANYWHERE that you can't be licensed. IF you (or a member of your household) smokes inside the house, outside of business hours, you can STILL be licensed, you just have to disclose that info to all interviewing families.

Yes, I wasn't clear. During business hours is what I meant. Here, it includes within 15 ft. of the house even if outside. It's the same way for businesses... if you go outside to smoke, you must stay at least 15 ft. away from the establishment.

[marniewon]

Yes, I wasn't clear. During business hours is what I meant. Here, it includes within 15 ft. of the house even if outside. It's the same way for businesses... if you go outside to smoke, you must stay at least 15 ft. away from the establishment.

Here, it used to be that we couldn't smoke within 25-50 feet of a business or public building. Then, last spring they passed the law of no smoking IN any business (including restaurants and bars), and the first law went away. Ashtrays are now right outside the doors of buildings. My way of thinking (and I'm thinking specifically of our local bowling alley) if I was a non-smoker, I would much rather have the smokers smoking in the bar (away from everyone else and the kids) than standing right outside the only door that people enter, and have to walk through the "white cloud" of smoke. In fact, as a smoker, I would much rather be IN the bar than right outside the door, as I'm very conscious of and respectful to the non-smokers.

Anyway, back on topic - for daycares here in MI, we cannot smoke on our property during business hours. However, if you have a property of several acres, you can go out an acre (or however many feet it is) and still smoke on your own property.

[nikia]

I'm really trying not to be offended here, and I know most (if not all) are trying really hard to NOT be offensive, but I guess I really am.

I'm a smoker. I'm also a professional daycare provider. The people making comments about pulling their kids immediately if they knew their provider smoked - what do you think we do? Light up in the playroom during circle time?!? I do not smoke in the house. I never smoke anywhere the kids could see me. I always use a strong mint and wash my hands after. There are no cigarette butts laying around my yard. I never leave the kids unattended, my breaks are only when my "assistants" are here and helping. The care I give my dck's is never compromised because I smoke. I've missed ONE day since starting daycare, and that was from the stomach flu I caught from one of the kids. My dckids are way sicker than I ever am. We take walks, I chase them around outside, I play on the floor occasionally with them. I don't have a problem keeping up with the kids. I would bet that none of my parents know I smoke, and I interact with them and their children every day. If they were to ask me point blank, I would tell them yes. I would not lie, have never lied about it, it has just never come up. I do not smell like smoke, my kids do not go home smelling like smoke.

I agree as I am a smoker. I NEVER smoke in my home or cars and NEVER during daycare hours. In the morning before they get here and then shower and change and then after they leave. They do not know I smoke except for the family that asked and I told them yes but never in my home or cars and never during daycare hours. They still brought they child to me, I dont feel it is anyones business what I do on my own time as long as its not hurting my families. I know that noone has a clue because one family saw me out and I was smoking and they said they never would have guessed that I smoked. I dont think this makes me a worst provider than anyone who doesnt smoke. I dont smoke around the kids or my own. Im a closet smoker or was till I put it on here

[e.j.]

While I don't have anything against smokers personally, I would not have knowingly sent my children to a provider who smoked. For me, it was an emotional decision because my mother had been a smoker who died of lung cancer when I was a teen. I think kids are very impressionable and I just felt very strongly about having role models around my kids who did not smoke. Before I became a provider, I did have my son in child care. During the interview, I asked if the provider smoked and she told me she did not. Unfortunately, I didn't think to ask if anyone in her house did and she didn't bother to tell me her husband was a smoker. He did it outside and while I was uncomfortable about it, I didn't remove my son from her care. One morning, I dropped my son off at her house and she had guests that were staying the week. They were all smokers and you could cut the smoke in her kitchen with a knife! I was very upset but didn't feel I could say anything to her since it was her house. I knew I was going to start my own day care soon after so I never said anything to her about the smoking but I wasn't happy that she allowed it around my son and the other kids.

[nikia]

While I don't have anything against smokers personally, I would not have knowingly sent my children to a provider who smoked. For me, it was an emotional decision because my mother had been a smoker who died of lung cancer when I was a teen. I think kids are very impressionable and I just felt very strongly about having role models around my kids who did not smoke. Before I became a provider, I did have my son in child care. During the interview, I asked if the provider smoked and she told me she did not. Unfortunately, I didn't think to ask if anyone in her house did and she didn't bother to tell me her husband was a smoker. He did it outside and while I was uncomfortable about it, I didn't remove my son from her care. One morning, I dropped my son off at her house and she had guests that were staying the week. They were all smokers and you could cut the smoke in her kitchen with a knife! I was very upset but didn't feel I could say anything to her since it was her house. I knew I was going to start my own day care soon after so I never said anything to her about the smoking but I wasn't happy that she allowed it around my son and the other kids.

Even as a smoker I would not send my children to a daycare where smoking is in their home. I do not smoke around my children. When I took my kids to a daycare, my daycare provider said she never knew I smoked till she saw me out because my kids didnt smell like it and other parents that smoked she said their kids smelled horrible like smoke, best compliment I ever got as weird as that is. Its a hard habit to break and I wish I didnt do it. I am sorry that you lost your mom to such a horrible disease.

I wonder if being hypnotized works? Anyone ever tried it for anything?