How long?

[ValeTudoGuy]

Will you give up drinking when she thrusts a cup in your hand and says 'You look like you need a drink daddy'?

Thats a moment to rejoice!

My 4 year old has a sip of whatever I'm having, so long as it's not a hard spirit. When he's a bit older he will be allowed a small glass of watered down wine with a meal. My 1 year old will likely be the same, she already dips her finger in my beer.

My and the Mrs were brought up similar and we both have a healthy relationship with alcohol (in our opinion)
Most of the people I know that don't were shielded from it until adults.

[oskihen]

I understand completely with your worries and fears regarding your children , being a father of four I've certainly been there and worn the t shirt , one thing we certainly cannot do with our children is shield them completely from life. My two youngest 14 and 12 of which I have always smoked but never in the house and when younger tried not to smoke in front of them too much now have friends in the village who smoke . They both find the habit disgusting thankfully . Luckily children now generally don't grow up in houses like I did (born in the sixties) where everyone smoked even in hospitals . But without a shadow of a doubt the biggest challenge will be from peer pressure at school and friends etc from cigarette smoking .
As a parent its extremely important to educate our children to behave responsibly and as they age to handle more adult interests . One of the biggest concerns regarding the newest generation is alcohol and 'binge drinking' and the drug culture. Every drug there is is extremely available to children and young adults. But generally people don't stop drinking I front of their children but try to educate them on behaviour and what's acceptable and what isn't.
In my experience my children regard my cigars as an old man's interest. Yet their friends smoke cigarettes and they choose not to

[DogManDude]

Understandable worries. I've never smoked cigarettes (I watched my granny doe of lung cancer from a long term 60-a-day habit) but not lived a risk adverse life overall. My kids are all growed up and don't smoke so I don't have that to worry about. They are most certainly more sensible that I ever was!

If if I was gonna give up the odd cigar I'd also give up the occasional scotch, BBQs, drive less, go on fewer adventures into the wilds and a lot more.

[cj121]

Some decent posts

Our two lads, 2.5yrs and 5, both know what I have and what I do with them. When I'm poking about in a humi, and should they be about, they sometimes ask to have a smell of a stick and both go "eurrrgh" and think it funny. If either asks to hold one, they can very briefly and then they're told that they are not for children. That's the end of it there

[MarkLondon]

One thing Mark, you can't shield them from life, but you can educate them to make decisions. I remember as a kid we had cigarette toys and sweets, the majority of people who grew up in the 80's are non smokers.

On another note...I've just packed up 6 cigars for a colleagues dad that sadly doesn't have much time left. He's always smoked cigars apparently (not premium I don't think)...I said I'd give him a some...as I heard her saying she was going to buy him some to keep him happy.

[MarkLondon]

Will you give up drinking when she thrusts a cup in your hand and says 'You look like you need a drink daddy'?

Offering me a drink is different. Right in that second walking home it hit me anyway...This is a very personal thing different for each one of us.
I know we can't shield them from everything but that did make me feel crap seeing her do that tonight.

[wayne_w]

I look at it slightly differently..
My mum died when I was 12, she had cervical cancer. This was back in '82
She was a very occasional smoker, a pack of ten would last her for a week, I think the smoking was more for relaxation as much as anything. We were a single parent family, I'm the youngest of 5.
Since then, my outlook on life has been to live for the moment, if I want something, within reason, I'll have it. I suppose I'm a bit selfish in a way that I do things to please me!
I'm not a totally selfish person on the whole though, I'd like to think that I make sure my wife is happy too. We've been unable to have children throughout our lives, we've been together for over 30 yrs, since school & it wasn't till late on that we decided to do something about why we couldn't conceive, unfortunately though, the NHS were unhelpful & we didn't want to get into ivf etc. We sort of looked at it like, that was just how it was going to be.
In the meantime though, we've had a good life. we've both worked from school & put that money into travel & holidays. Our bucket list has been good up to yet, hopefully we'll keep adding to it!
Aside from my ramblings..I'm sorry to go on a bit!
My cigar 'hobby' is about enjoyment & discovery, I don't think about the health risks just yet, as it's an occasional thing, with no inhaling, I'd like to think it would take quite a few years to feel any adverse effects. I understand that there is a risk involved, as anything, moderation is key.
And on that note..Let's light up & ponder, as we do!!


Wayne

[ValeTudoGuy]

Strangely related to the origins of this thread's initial conversation. I just found that the window sill on my side of the bed has a small gap where damp must be collecting, because there's some damp mold..... I bet that's really not helping with my seemingly contant colds.

[oskihen]

Strangely related to the origins of this thread's initial conversation. I just found that the window sill on my side of the bed has a small gap where damp must be collecting, because there's some damp mold..... I bet that's really not helping with my seemingly contant colds.

No probably isn't Marc but also this winter has been a particularly bad year for colds coughs and flu I don't know any people who haven't been affected.

[ValeTudoGuy]

It's just that I don't normally suffer. September till now has been filled with colds for me........ Russian biological warfare I reckon.

[oskihen]

Maybe mate same here I never suffer work outside all year fresh air and eat healthy but been suffering since start of Dec we can't all be ill from cigars at the same time it's just a crappy lurgy infested winter

[Sean]

Am like john since taking up the love of cigars i havnt had any illness or cold or anything. So i know you can think theses things are caused by cigars. But as you know things can be brought on by feeling run down i remember not long before i moved down and things didnt look like the were going ahead. And constant trips back and forth from liverpool and surrey left me feeling i cant be bothered with cigars. But then now am all settled and relaxed and see all the great new in the humi posts makes me think i wont ever give up well thats my feeling at the moment but who knows what ill feel in 10-20 years and only 28

[jabba the hutt]

BORING

[JonnyO]

All great posts.

As a recent (well doing it for about 2 years now) advocate to the hobby, I have always had the “Cancer Bogeyman” at the back of my head. I was always an anti cigarette person and swore against them for years and to this day I have never smoked one. Cigars on the other hand....well they are just amazing and the equivalent of smoking angel wings (One would assume). I have no kids and very rarely smoke at the moment (2 a month at the best). I keep a very healthy life style and am in a gym 4 days a week. So I guess what is the relative danger ratio vs cigarette smoking

[PeeJay]

The biggest risk from cigar smoking is probably oral cancer so practice impeccable oral hygiene and be alert to the warning signs, have check ups twice a year at the dentist.