If you're a cigar-smoking Mom or Dad, I want to hear from you.
Like any good father, I want what's best for my kids. With my oldest still under 4, they're still pretty far removed from chats about sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll. But sooner or later, they're going to start asking material questions about cigars and why I smoke them.
My oldest already knows what cigars are. He saw a cigar in the ashtray and asked me what it was, and I answered him frankly. I'm not about to insult his intelligence by pretending not to hear his question, or by spouting off some falsehood.
I guess the bottom line is this: I'm not interested in indoctrinating him in any way, but neither am I about to hide my cabinet humidor.
I DO consciously abstain from smoking in their presence. While I'm not ashamed of cigars, smoking is not a behavior I wish to normalize in their worldview. Besides, with few exceptions, actually enjoying one when they're about is near-impossible.
Do I look forward to sharing a cigar with my kids someday? Sure, when they're 18 and old enough to know the difference between occasionally enjoying a fine cigar and chain-smoking cigarettes.
How do/did you handle the smoking question vis-à-vis cigars? Are there any tips you can give to a relative rookie Dad? Thanks in advance.
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Growing up in the old country in Italy, I remember seeing my grandfather smoke those little cigars called parodi, or ginnie stinkers(they do stink). I was six years old and asked about a thousand questions. One of my questions was why do you smoke(grandpa) when they stink so bad. My grandfather looked at me with a joyful smile and answered,"Why you have so many questions, why don't you play with your toys and I will play with mine. So one day in God's will when you are eighteen you get to enjoy a good cigar with me." The moral of the story is that you can answer in the best way you can without telling a lie. However, without telling the truth either. At that age they live in a fantasy world and specifics are not needed.