Son, It’s time we had the Talk: Seen Enough Tobacco

Typically, my son and I get gas in the morning on our way to school drop-off. It has become a regular errand once a week for as long as I can remember! One morning while pulling into get some petrol, my son asked what the LARGE poster signs were advertising (see above photo). My son is 8 going on 16 and clearly it was time to have “a talk” about smoking. This year we have already started to cover “the puberty” as he likes to call it. 

Why not sit down and start having the Smoking talk? 

This post was sponsored by Tobacco Free New York State as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. All opinions expressed in my post are my own.

I think we all know tobacco companies are spending billions of dollars to put their products in front of kids! Never did I get such a eye opening realization as I did that morning we pulled in to get gas! You have seen the commercials, media ads, the posters. Did you pay attention? Did you realize your kids were?? These FOUR posters have been eye level with my sons booster seat every morning for years. Starring at him, enticing him, sparking his curiosity. So much so he actually asked me about them. If we as parents, guardians, educators do not start having the “TALK” the average for our youth to start smoking is going to continue to decrease! Want to know what the age kids are starting to smoke at now?? The average age of a new smoker in New York State is 13 years old!! 

Raise of hands, who is OK with that???

The more kids see tobacco, the more likely they are to start smoking. It’s really like putting a “DO NOT TOUCH” sign on something. The more you see it the more you want to touch it. We need to have a conversation, several, to get kids thinking why THEY do not want to start smoking. As a mom, my goal is to keep my son safe and healthy. Instead of shaming him about smoking, I want to have a open conversation. I want to have him explore his opinions as to why smoking is not a good choice for him! Why smoking would limit his lifestyle. Why smoking could limit his dreams of becoming a hockey player. Why smoking could end up giving him medical conditions down the road that could be life threatening. Every bad action has a consequence after all!

So, I’m signing the “Seen Enough Tobacco” pledge to make New York a healthier place to live and to raise kids. I truly had no idea how much advertisement was out there until it was brought to my attention! 

I’m signing:

For all the children out there who are considering it. 

For all the kids out there who think it is the “cool” thing to do.

For my son who has to grow up in this community.

For the countless smokers who wish they had never started.

These are a few reasons I am signing this petition & I encourage you to as well!

Click here for “Seen Enough Tobacco” pledge

and help make New York a healthier place to live, work and play!

Check out the Tobacco Free New York State sites for more information:

Tobacco Free New York State Site: http://www.tobaccofreenys.org

Tobacco Free New York State Facebook:  http://lwww.facebook.com/tobaccofreenys  

Tobacco Free New York State Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/tobaccofreenys  

Tobacco Free New York State Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/tobaccofreenys