Mother allows three-year old son to smoke
Article by Mary Ayres, January 2009
Yes, you have read it correctly, a 3 year old child!
There is currently an advertisement being broadcast on the radio which states over 2,000 people die in the UK a year through tobacco related illness
; it features a child saying how frightened they are their parents smoke and what will happen to them if their parents die.
Briefly, this 3 year old child was one of three siblings aged from 3 years to 5 years; the mother was in her mid-twenties, a single parent. It was through concerned actions of the mother's friend, who videoed the child smoking on her mobile phone and alerting Social Services that this matter came to light.
The case was brought to court where the mother stated she was unaware her three year old was smoking, but the judge stated that he didn't see how she could have been unaware her son was smoking and he (the child) would not have been able to smoke without discomfort unless he (the child) had acquired a habit.
The Judge told the mother this was an appalling situation and imposed a 40 week jail sentence suspended for two years, as her children had suffered enough, and a 12 month supervision order as she had admitted one charge of cruelty. Since the incident the mother has attended parenting classes.
Although we are shocked at this report, we are unaware of the mother's own background and her own upbringing.
Yes, this case is disturbing, it is something that should never have happened and what this mother did was inexcusable. These were cigarettes - but think also about the children of alcoholics and drug addicts?
What chance do our children have when they are denied moral instruction by their parents/carers and other adults in their lives? We have reached a point in this country where it is easy for the 'buck to be passed' to someone else to deal with - but the truth is that we are their role models and as adults it is our responsibility to be the one to give moral guidance to children.