Smokers banned from fostering

[YuAndDan 153]

LONDON (Reuters) – A council has become the first in London to rule that smokers will no longer be able to foster children.

Sounds about right. The dangers of second hand smoke to children are well known.

Yep, and children of smokers, tend to become smokers in their teen years.

It is understandable that the tobacco industry is upset about this, it may prevent some from becoming users of their product.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

It is understandable that the tobacco industry is upset about this, it may prevent some from becoming users of their product.

[Marilyn. 340]

even if you smoke outside you still carry some of that smoke on you.. it seeps into your clothes etc.. I know, I live with a smoker

Edited November 10, 2008 by *Marilyn*

[Dave_Thao 0]

Smoking is bad m'kay.

[Ban Hammer 13,637]

even if you smoke outside you still carry some of that smoke on you.. it seeps into your clothes etc.. I know, I live with a smoker

tell him to smoke naked.

[Nagishkaw 510]

even if you smoke outside you still carry some of that smoke on you.. it seeps into your clothes etc.. I know, I live with a smoker

tell him to smoke naked.

[MichelleN 0]

What's next? Obese people can't adopt?

Well China won't allow obese people to adopt. So it's not unheard of

[IAMX 3,055]

For once I was about to defend smokers, but then again I just remembered here we like to ban gays from adopting. So, #### the smokers.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

What's next? Obese people can't adopt?

Well China won't allow obese people to adopt. So it's not unheard of

Well... it could be argued that obese people living sedentary lifestyles and with bad eating habits could cause "harm" to the children in that way...

Its not unheard of for accusations of abuse to be levelled at obese parents for allowing their children to get morbidly overweight.

[S and S 12]

I hate to point this out but there isn't exactly a surplus of foster homes to begin with. Many times children are stuck in cold and unfeeling shelters waiting for a foster home. My aunt took in foster children (she doesn't smoke and her husband is a pastor of a church) and then were constantly asked to take in more children. Most of the kids came from smoking families anyway as I remember three girls she had their parents were in jail for selling drugs. I think the first focus should be on the quality of the overall home before we worry about if there are smokers in it. Some foster homes are abusive and many kids run away from those environments and end up in the streets.

[IAMX 3,055]

I hate to point this out but there isn't exactly a surplus of foster homes to begin with. Many times children are stuck in cold and unfeeling shelters waiting for a foster home. My aunt took in foster children (she doesn't smoke and her husband is a pastor of a church) and then were constantly asked to take in more children. Most of the kids came from smoking families anyway as I remember three girls she had their parents were in jail for selling drugs. I think the first focus should be on the quality of the overall home before we worry about if there are smokers in it. Some foster homes are abusive and many kids run away from those environments and end up in the streets.

While there are many smokers becoming more educated about smoking around children, it isn't a far cry from those of us who grew up in the 80s/90s who had family smoke around you left and right. Hell, my entire family smoked packs upon packs, and if anyone had a problem with it they'd hand them a nurse mask or tell them to go outside. So this is where my empathy for smokers goes out the window.

[S and S 12]

I hate to point this out but there isn't exactly a surplus of foster homes to begin with. Many times children are stuck in cold and unfeeling shelters waiting for a foster home. My aunt took in foster children (she doesn't smoke and her husband is a pastor of a church) and then were constantly asked to take in more children. Most of the kids came from smoking families anyway as I remember three girls she had their parents were in jail for selling drugs. I think the first focus should be on the quality of the overall home before we worry about if there are smokers in it. Some foster homes are abusive and many kids run away from those environments and end up in the streets.

While there are many smokers becoming more educated about smoking around children, it isn't a far cry from those of us who grew up in the 80s/90s who had family smoke around you left and right. Hell, my entire family smoked packs upon packs, and if anyone had a problem with it they'd hand them a nurse mask or tell them to go outside. So this is where my empathy for smokers goes out the window.

Did you notice any health related problems because of this? My family smoked around me my whole childhood and my mother smoked while pregnant with me. I was an above average birth weight and I have been perfectly healthy my whole life (thank God). My brother weighed more than me and he hasn't had any smoking related problems either.

[Peikko 1,575]

It's in the UK, the UK has higher standards to uphold

[Peikko 1,575]

Seriously though, if you want to adopt/foster then putting the kids first is your priority, or should be or why do it? Why shouldn't there be a demand made for the highest standards of care from a surrogate parent? It's not like those who want to can't give up the habit while they are adopting/fostering - is it?

[IAMX 3,055]

Did you notice any health related problems because of this? My family smoked around me my whole childhood and my mother smoked while pregnant with me. I was an above average birth weight and I have been perfectly healthy my whole life (thank God). My brother weighed more than me and he hasn't had any smoking related problems either.

My birth weight was on the normal side, however, I did have weaker lungs because of it, and all of my life have been more susceptible to respiratory problems. Bronchitis kept rearing it's ugly head at younger ages, now at older ages sometimes pneumonia has become a problem, so have to be careful. When I'm around cigarette smoke I usually end up coughing up phlegm for some period of time as a reaction. Coupled with being around family who really gave far more a #### about their own addiction than other people's health, it's what's caused me to be very stringent about smoking anywhere around myself. Quite simply put, if someone lights up in my house, they better have something protecting their face. Funny thing is, while cigarettes irritate my lungs, a certain something else does not. Of course, neither allowed anywhere in my house.

Edited November 10, 2008 by SRVT