The chances of my father-in-law reading my blog is non-existant so I’m going to rant to my heart’s content.

This morning we went for Dim Sum with my in-laws in an open air restaurant. When I arrive, my father-in-law walked toward us and wanted to amuse baby Clarisse. Seeing him with a ciggarette in hand, I just walked pass him (I know I’m a bit rude but I have no choice) without a care. Its situations like these when I’d rather hurt his feelings than baby Clarisse’s health.

This is not the first time I’ve been in such a situation. I remember 2 years ago while I was pregnant, he chain smoked at the table when we were having lunch together. That time I would just walk away from the table, waited until he’s done with it and walk back to the table. I don’t know whether he felt it or not but he just couldn’t be bothered seeing it time and time again he lits up within close proximity to the family. From then on, whenever we are to dine at non-air-conditioned places, I’d avoid going altogether because I’m certain we’re all going to be second-hand smokers.

Advising him? Let’s just say we’ve known him long enough to realise he’s not someone who take criticisms well. In other words, a person who easily gets offended.

Everytime my father-in-law lits up near baby Clarisse, my mind boggles at how inconsiderate and ignorant he can be to the harm second-hand smoke can do to people around him, let alone a one-year-old baby. It is very inconsiderate of him to smoke in front of children.

The risks of tobacco smoke are many. It can weaken the air-ways, making them more vulnerable to germs, poisons and pollutants and also reduces blood levels of vitamins C. Children who are often exposed to second hand smoke are more susceptible to asthma, tonsillitis, respiratory infections, ear infection and bacterial and viral infections which is severe enough to land them in the hospital or even kill them. On average, one study found, they are more likely than other children to be in fair or poor health. There is an increased risk down the road of developing lung cancer or cancer of the cervix, brain, breast, or thyroid.

Besides that, smoking in front of young children would sets a bad example. Children who see someone smoke, they would risk becoming smokers themselves (although my husband begs to differ) and with all the shortened life span that the habit involves.

If you do not want your children to have all these risks, try not to let your child exposed to tobacco smoke.