Hellobee Boards

Oh that's gross! I don't know if I would say anything to them, but I would definitely make a comment to my LO as I walked by (something along the lines of 'walk quickly through the cigarette smoke, that's yucky and very bad for you to breathe in' - I can be a bit passive aggressive that way). And then we'd go to a different playground....

We usually just go to the other side of the park. The butts on the ground thing would really tick me off and I would probably say something about that. Is there a park office you can call and file a complaint? Maybe they could post signs or at least put out some butt disposal things.

I shoot a death glare their way and move LO.

I would contact the park administration and complain. If smoking and littering is in fact prohibited the authorities should do the policing.

I have found that smokers are open to changing their positions wheb they realize their smoke is blowing directly on someone. Walking past a group of smokers to enjoy another side of the park sounds like the perfect solution to this particular issue.

I would not say anything to them, people are unpredictable and you just never know.

I adapt my behavior in that case. Just keep moving.

@Foodnerd81: Leaving their buts everywhere is not cool, especially at a kids park.
If it were me I wouldn't say anything, or move. Probably just keep to ourselves.

I would not say anything. If I saw them leave their butts, I may say something about that. Smoking is their choice, though.

That being said, did anyone else start singing "smokin in the boys room..." when they saw this post pop up? Just me?

@mediagirl: I actually don't think smoking is their choice, in a place where it is clearly against the rules...? I know in NYC at least, it's illegal in public parks.

I am so surprised by all the people saying they would just leave them alone! I have honestly never had a smoker react badly if I've asked them to move because the smoke is affecting my child, maybe I've just been lucky!

I would leave them alone. I can't imagine a group who would be more frequently harrassed than mothers who smoke. When I was younger and not a parent I smoked and people say mean things to you all. the. time. I can't imagine how much worse it would be as a mother.

@LuLu Mom: For all we know the moms light up after their kids are away from the table headed to the playground area. Other people that are near the smoker's table walk through it and don't have to linger. I understand smoking is bothersome, but walking through the a smoke cloud once or maybe twice (enter/ exit) in a day isn't that bad in the grand scheme of things. I'm sure the smoker's kids appreciate smoking away from them in a park rather than if the moms smoked in the car with the windows up.

I almost never see people smoking, but they almost always look a little.....rough...so I leave them alone. I see more hookah and stuff like that in my area than I do actual cigarettes.

If it was very close to my child where we could smell it, I would probably say something. But I'm somewhat chicken so I'd have to see what the people looked like. If DH was with us, I'd tell him to go say something. He has a big mouth and is fearless.

@Foodnerd81: I think there is a smoking ban in parks in Boston?

http://www.cityofboston.gov/news/Default.aspx?id=6463

I would not say something, rather keep moving to another area or park.

Playground I would say something (politely), basketball court I would not. I'm an ex smoker, there's no need to smoke in a place that's specifically for kids and I'd have no problem saying so, even if it wasnt illegal.

We also deal with playgrounds in areas that are “townies” vs. yuppies in areas being gentrified, and smoking on playgrounds is illegal here across the board as well. Honestly, most of the people who smoke around kids blatantly like that are, like @blackbird said, generally pretty rough looking. I mean, by now EVERYONE knows smoking isn’t healthy and if you are smoking on a *playground* full of children, you obv don’t give a crap about anyone’s health, or what anyone thinks.

I would shoot them a glare, and I would probably under my breath loud-whisper that isn’t it nice that “some people” are above the law, but I wouldn’t say anything. You never know what people will do these days, and someone who is smoking on a playground clearly doesn’t exercise good judgment to begin with, so I’d move my kid and leave well enough alone.