Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Cute Little Smoker, Advice From Our Readers (no sex, humor)

   by this guy (thisguy.1066@gmail.com)

   Summary: Satirical article from a fictional magazine that encourages
youth smoking.



   ADVICE FROM OUR READERS TO A WOMAN WHO THINKS HER DAUGHTER SMOKES TOO
MUCH

   THE QUESTION: Hello people, I'm Maria: I'll be thirty-one next month. 
I'm a very heavy smoker: in a week I smoke the equivalent of about seven
cartons...70 packs...1400 individual cigarettes.  I don't smoke that much
because I have a "heavy smoking fetish" or anything: I do it because it's
my job.  I'm a quality control / product tester at a cigarette factory;
which means I have to smoke a lot of cigarettes...about a carton a day. 
That said, I really do like smoking; and have no problem with the amount I
smoke.

   The reason I'm writing this letter is because I am concerned about my
daughter, Chelsea.  She turned twelve a couple months ago.  As a result of
my job, I had to smoke while I was pregnant with her.  Between that, and
how much I smoke, I couldn't really object when she began begging for
cigarettes as a pre-schooler.  She has been a daily / regular smoker for
the past six years; also something I've never had a problem with.

   The thing is: she smokes a lot...she's a twelve-year-old chain-smoker.
Often she's out of breath and gets little to no exercise (as a result of
which she's becoming fairly over-weight).  Last week when I was taking the
trash out, I counted the empty cigarette packs in the trash can in her
bedroom: there were thirty of them.  Adding in other empty packs around the
house, I've concluded that Chelsea now smokes somewhere it the neighborhood
of six pack per day!  Is that too much for a girl who's only recently
turned twelve?  Or am I worrying about something that's not really an
issue?

   Maria

   ADVICE FROM OUR READERS

   Six packs is 120 cigarettes a day: can't say that's an insignificant
amount...and certainly quite a bit for a twelve year old.  But, like all
smokers, she smokes the amount she smokes because she feels it is the right
amount to fill her needs.  Additionally, you have allowed her to get to
this amount; which essentially means that you believe it is an acceptable
amount for her to be smoking.  I think you should be proud of her: as long
as she can handle it, she will be happy to continue to smoke.  Maybe she
should try to get a little exercise as soon as she wakes up and smokes her
first ten cigarettes or so for the day.  This makes her lungs stronger and
helps them to clean up for more.  Take care and good luck with your little
smoking machine.

   Benny

   Hello Maria!  I don't think you need to worry at all.  Yes your daughter
smokes a lot, but definitely not too much!  I think you should be very
proud; support her, and encourage her to smoke however much she wants.  By
my standards a heavy smoking girl smokes at least ten packs per day, so I'd
say your daughter could safely smoke quite a bit more without smoking too
much!  Does she like to smoke this much?  Maybe she wants to smoke more? 
My wife is a twelve pack per day smoker, and absolutely loves it.  My
daughter is fourteen and currently smokes four packs per day; I'd be so
proud if she could smoke as much as Chelsea!

   Carl.

   Maria, Six packs per day is definitely on the high side, particularly
for a twelve year old.  But, as they say, you can't put the toothpaste back
in the tube: so you might consider limiting her to the six packs per day
(she seems to be smoking now) for the next year or two.

   Your two concerns, being out of breath and her weight...  Smaller
portions of healthier food should help with her weight issues.  I too had
been easily getting out of breath a while ago; then I started doing yoga,
it really helped my breathing.

   Wishing you the best, Louise

   If Chelsea has been at six packs per day for a while, that's the amount
she needs: and it would be cruel of you to try to force her to cut back. 
Her being over-weight and out of breath is a single separate issue.  If you
can convince your daughter to eat a bit less and get some exercise, her
weight should go down.  You can help her lose some weight by getting her
clothes that are more form-fitting (this worked for me after having the
baby), as well as reminding her that boys prefer girls who are thin...
   Sara