I fully believe this is a good idea. My dad smoked 4 packs a day for the 18 years I was in his home and I now have lung disease and asthma thanks to that. Their are more black spots on my lungs than their were on his if you can believe that. These kids are already at risk for other things in their life why add to it if it is preventable? That is my opinion.

The thing that agravates me is the fact that so many people are against smoking, but no one seems to have a problem with those that drink. I've seen drunk driving kill more people than kids being around cigarette smoke. Granted, I don't think you should smoke in the car or home with children around, but those that drink and go off the deep end aren't even caring where their kids are. And if they had to go somewhere, would think nothing of putting the kids in the car and going. It amazes me when I see the TV commercials that say drink responsibly. Wow, it's ok to drink if I drink responsibly, whatever that may be, but I can't smoke because because of the children. I've never gotten into a car after a few cigarettes and got pulled over for reckless driving. Hmmmm!

ok well steve has for sure the best idea im 14 and my mom smokes a pack and a half a day and i try to get her to stop but seriously no matter what you say people arnt going to change because of what you say so people who really care about you such as a foster parent if the child really understands the parents intentions then the kid should be able to look past that and really feel grateful. Since im only 14 and im probably not so knowledgeable about this but my moms smoking has never bothered me because i love her. My friend loved his dad very much to but one night like steve said he came home a little crazier than usual and started knocking around my friends mom who hit back well needless to say she got hit with a knife and now the dad is in jail and he lives with foster parents. Well now you think about that alcohol may not have health risks for those around you but when the person under the influence comes out swinging who has more of a chance for this a smoker or alcoholic because last time i checked smoking cant get you drunk.
Thanks

Well, to begin with, there is no such thing as "simply" quitting smoking; if it were so "simple" to do, why do you suppose they keep coming up with ways to assist/help/support smokers in quitting? Obviously, you are not, nor have you ever been a smoker, to make such a facile yet foolish statement.

My mother smoked her entire life, including during all five of her pregnancies. Out of all of us, I am the only remaining smoker, & have tried to quit more times than I care to count. It is no "simple" undertaking; if it were, would I still be smoking? Of course not.

It would seem to me that, given the enormous problem with childhood obesity, & its associated health problems, starting with diabetes, & moving on to high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, etc., potential foster parents who are obese should also be given short shrift as well.

Ok first of all absolutely agree with this rule. Over 200,000 die every year from SECONDHAND SMOKING! think about it...would you like it if your kid died because of some "bad habit". Thats also a bad example to set for children. "oh look! mommy's smoking! i should too!" Besides I feel sorry for any foster children out there. They have to go to school smelling like a walking bowling ally! Its bad enough that they dont live with their own parents.

Intolerance is the worst "habit" I know of. To tell other people how to live there lives must be nice. Why did God give us freewill but to make are own decisions and learn are own lessons in our time and own way. I don't smoke but I will defend freedom and understanding of others tell the day I die because we all have a right to choose for ourselves.
Bigotry and ignorance go hand in hand and are followed by pride, pride comes before the fall, I hope we can all try to be humble before we lose everything we stand for, freedom to ALL (not just to people you like or agree with you)!!!!
Think on this the day someone tells you what&how to choose with your personal choices.
Try to be tolerant people. No compromise, no progress.

I adopted my son a few years ago...at that time I smoked for a lot of years..I still didnt quit till five months ago..its the hardest thing I had to do in my life..But, If the adoption agency told me I had to stop smoking to adopt my wonderful son..I would do it in a heartbeat. I dont think it is fair to do this..a lot of friends of mine who do smoke ..smoke outside..I dont think this harms the child.

"they can simply quit smoking"? If it was that easy no one would be smoking. I have seen people struggle for years with trying to break the "habit", and they never really do. Everytime they hear someone talking about smoking, smell smoke on someone, the craving comes back. You have obviously never smoked and have no clue what you are talking about.

I am sorry, i quit 2 years ago, but that did not make me a bad parent i went outside in the cold and heat to smoke not around my child. Do you wear perfume? I think it ought to be illegal do you know it makes people have attack where they cannot breath. Did you feed your child chocklate so you making them dibetic? Get the picture.

I agree! Deanne

How dare you say people dont love their children , because they smoke ,, Well then that carbon monoxide you expose them to when you start the car does the same harm ,Think about that everytime you turn your car over to get to your moral high road you live on!

So, now ur gonn tell me how I should spend my money too? College funds? Y cant I smoke and give my child an education? that is riedicuolous that u think not only do i deserve not to have kids, but that u should be able to tell me what to spend my mney on instead of cigarettes, I say if u r going to outlaw smoking than y sell that f n things???

Well, ex-CU--U--SE me, you righteous do-gooder. Who are YOU to condemn ME? We've both smoked all our lives, yet only two of our four children do. And NOBODY has any lung diseases or issues. One of our sons was an asthmatic and then the Drs. asked us to try quitting and getting rid of our dogs. I said, "How about we re-home the boy"? He's 55 yrs. old now, no longer has asthma, and is a heavy smoker, plus he owns 6 dogs of his own.

This attempt at "health-scares" is ridiculous. I was also a medical student, so I'm well aware of all these scare tactics, and we were taught that there is absolutely NO PROOF of any connection between smoking and cancer. NO PROOF - only strong thoughts. . So, until you offer me proof, don't be so stinkingly judgmental of others. And I want PROOF - not what you "think".
Worry more about auto and factory emissions. Using your car air-conditioner puts tons more toxic fumers into the air than any smoker does. As for me STINKING? Stay way from me. FAR away. I could care less about your judgmental idiocy, you "perfect" cretin.

My,my,my, aren't you the judgmental one. I hope you'll always be as perfect as you are now; otherwise, someone might think you're not fit to be a parent...or a wife...or a daughter...or an employee..or a friend if you have a human flaw or frailty. It must be nice to view the world from your convenient little glass house.

Amen. This is not good for those who need a foster home. If you have to do something, compromise, and get them not to smoke around the children. I believe anyone would do that if it was the way it was going to be. I smoke, and I'm tired of having more things taken away from smokers. I would follow the rules, but it is not illegal to smoke. So I guess, after saying that, they should ask theirselves, "How important is it?" I'd say not as important if it means a child gets someone to love them when they have already had a rough time. They would probably not mind. I can see no smoking at all if any child is sick or has asthma, but there are a lot of people who want to be foster parents that don't smoke. So a lot of that would equal out. I think it is a bad idea.

Yes, a "litmus test" should be applied. I'd like to see a foster parents LIFETIME CREDIT HISTORY (you know, to see if they pay their bills...), see their TAXES AUDITED (you know...to see if they are CHEATERS), know if they DRINK because having a glass of wine or beer is also harmful for the children to see (for pete's sake the kids will run right out and buy liquor if they see their foster parents drinking, right?) and basically I'd like to see a snoop test of their homes.

Are you serious when you say bad habbits make bad parents?!?! So if you bite your nails, drink a glass of wine with dinner, pick your nose, chew on straws, etc... you should not be allowed to have children - fostered or biological? What kind of mentality is that coming from? Every single person in the world has a bad habbit or 2 some worse than others but where do you get off judging my ability to parent because I light up now and then. Where in gods green earth does that make me a bad parent?