Smoking

[DaSilva]

If it were me (oh wait, it is me, I'm in the same situation), I would just keep hiding it. Because its a personal choice, and I'll be damned if I get punished for a decision that I made. Besides, if you tell them now, they might pull that whole bit about being disappointed in you. If that happens, you take a risk of feeling bad and quitting something so delightful.

[Guest Hobbit]

Honestly, since your parents alredy know (and I'm pretty sure they do, since they're asking), you should just admit it. Since they gave it up, they'll probably be more understanding and want you to quit too, but I have no idea how they'll try to get you to do this.

How they'll react will really depend on what kind of parents you have. You said they'll probably be understanding, so I really think you should just talk to them. It won't be pleasant, but you'll probably feel better when you get it over with, instead of hiding everything and lying, since you're worried enough about it to ask for advice. There won't be the stress of having to hide and feel guilty about lying to them when it's over.

If you do tell them, do not try to justify it, blame it on someone else, or get really defensive. Be honest and open. Try to keep it from escalating into a full-out fight, and if you want to quit, tell them, and they'll probably be a lot more sympathetic. Depending on your parents, they might even blame themselves for smoking. It will usually help things go over better if you do not yell, even if they get upset and yell at you. Just keep cool and try to get them to have an actual conversation with you.

If you don't want to quit, however, I'm not really sure what you should do. I guess you should still tell them, but, odds are, they'll probably want you to quit too, and refusing to quit will probably make them try harder to force you, and things would probably get worse. Honestly, I think it would be best to quit, but that has to be your decision.

Most of my advice comes from watching my sister. When she's upset, she starts yelling and becoming really defensive, and it only makes things worse. If you talk to your parents, you have to [I]talk[/I] to them. They'll usually be more sympathetic and less harsh when you're honest and they understand where you're coming from. You're almost 18, so try to act like an adult, even if they don't.

You don't have to listen to me, or anyone else (of course), but whatever happens, I really hope things work out. Good luck with whatever you decide.

[Andy]

[SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkRed]Hmmm....well, if I had to guess, they probably already know. And they just want you to tell them because they don't like you being sneaky about it. But like I said, they probably already know, so yeah, if they approach you directly again, just tell them. Well, thats my 2 cents anyways.[/COLOR][/SIZE]

[Guest VlarysVomit]

[QUOTE=DeadSeraphim][COLOR=Indigo][SIZE=1][FONT=Arial]Don't tell them till you turn 18. That's what I do.

Problem solved.[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR][/QUOTE]

I agree.. :animesmil thats is very good idea. but you can try any good idea too!

[Darktactic]

If you tell them, there are going to be consequences. If you're up to being sent off to a military reform camp or something like that, then I guess you just flat out tell them, "Mom, Dad, I lied to you. I smoke, and I've been smoking for X amount of years." Then at least, it'll probably be easier on you than if you had gotten caught without telling them. If you recognize that smoking is a problem for you, then I suggest quitting. I mean, if you have the guts to tell your parents that you smoke, then I think you probably have the will power to quit smoking until you at least turn eighteen.

[Boo]

:stupid:

[size=1]- Mom, I smoke before my eighteenth.
- "Oh my god, my child smokes! He's possessed by the devil!"

Uh huh, I'm sure that's how it'll go. You, lad, seriously have some issues about parents.[/size]

[Charles]

The idea that it's best to tell one's parents about something that's going to piss them off once one reaches 18 years of age is really flawed to say the least. I mean, if you're financially independent, it's one thing. If you're still reliant on them, being 18 only means they can legally throw you out.

[The13thMan]

[quote name='Charles']The idea that it's best to tell one's parents about something that's going to piss them off once one reaches 18 years of age is really flawed to say the least. I mean, if you're financially independent, it's one thing. If you're still reliant on them, being 18 only means they can legally throw you out.[/quote]
[COLOR=DarkOrange][FONT=Century Gothic]Hah. I see your point. Though personally that thought hadn't occured to me as my parents would never throw me out. They're the loving accepting kind of parents....and maybe a bit too trusting ^L^'.

So really our advice is only worth anything if we guessed your parent's reaction accurately. I'd say telling them after 18 is more for the parents that would punish you by like grounding you or something like that, at which point you would be out of the house, college perhaps? Though of course i wouldn't tell 'em after 18 if you thought they'd kick you our or stop paying for your stuff. So really you just gotta figure it out on your own, ask yourself how your parents will react.

Of course...you could always stop smoking. It's gonna kill ya man, there's no doubt in it. If you quit now then at least you won't have too much signs of a long time smoker. It was cool while you were in highschool, but trust me, adults that smoke outside in the cold, by themselves is not cool at all. It's just depressing.

But whatev, your call. (Didn't mean to lecture you, if you felt like i did.)
[/FONT][/COLOR]

[Guest Phaedrus]

I've always liked smoking air. I'm also thankful for the plants, who take the chemicals I create as byproducts of my respiration and make the chemicals I require for respiration.

[Lotica]

[quote name='cancer][COLOR=Blue][SIZE=1]I'm not 18 yet, soon to be though, and I smoke. My parents probably know, and question me, but I do deny it. I do wish to tell them, but am not sure how to do so without them punishing me or something. They used to smoke too, so I'm sure they'd be understanding to an extent, but they are not too carefree about what I do. Any suggestions?[/SIZE'][/COLOR][/quote]

May I ask who pays for your cigarettes? Is it money that you've earned outside of home or money that your parents have earned and supplied you with?

Parents are not stupid. Just because they are questioning you about smoking doesn't mean they don't already know. Maybe they're waiting for you to fess up and take responsibility for your own actions. I'm sure they care, but how hard is it to care about someone who doesn't care about him or herself. Is not smoking itself punishishment enough?