At the time that my son was in first grade he became aware that smoking is bad for you.  From age 5 and forward, he was aware of the health risks and continuously asked me to stop smoking.  His perception was that I would light a “bad cigarette” and fall over dead on the spot.  He knew that smoking caused heart attacks, strokes, and cancer from things that he was taught at school, and also different things he’d picked up in society or on TV.

There were times that I’d tell him, “Buddy, mom’s going outside to smoke quick,” and he would look like he was literally holding his breath from the time that I walked outside until I returned safely after that cigarette.  He told me recently that he’s worried about my smoking ever since he can remember.  One of the questions that he used to ask me was- “Mom, don’t you want to be here to see me grow up?”

There is no convincing way to explain to a child that when a person is addicted to cigarettes it NEVER feels like a choice to go without one.  It doesn’t feel like the option is there to quit smoking.   That addiction controls your day, every single day.  I remember smoking being the very first thing that I did when I woke up, and the last thing that I did before going to bed every single day for years.  How do you tell your child that you’ve given up hope of ever finding a way to stop smoking?

My son and I sat down and talked when I started using The Safe Cig.  I told him that I was going to try using a new product that I’d heard about so that I could finally quit that nasty habit.  He was overjoyed, and I became very determined.

At this point, my son tells me he’s so proud of me for not smoking cigarettes, he’s happy that I’m no longer killing myself daily with tobacco, and he’s also glad that I no longer have that “cigarette stink” as he calls it.  I’m ecstatic about not spending all the money I used to on smoking, I don’t have that odor on my clothing or in my hair, and I’ve finally found something that works!

I’ve reached the three week mark.  Twenty one whole days and no cigarettes.  For me this feels like a miracle.  For my son, it feels like a brand new future.