Telling my Parents I Started Smoking

[captaincalabash]

I'm 62 and still haven't told my parents, but of course, I don't live in their house either! (Should I be embarrassed?)

 

[fireground_piper]

If you choose to continue, it seems wise to talk to them about it being you still live there. I started when I was 35 and both my parents had no issues with it and dare I say, supportive of it if it was something I wanted to do.

My paternal grandfather smoked a pipe whom I have no recollection as he passed when I was very young. I think it gives them some remembrance of him. Additionally relatives on my dad's side also farmed tobacco down in Virginia some decades ago (also predates my existence) and they've taken a supportive interest in my own growing and carving. They'll stop by and look at the plants, ask about the curing, etc. These are family things I never even knew about until I started and had conversations with them on it.

You never know what can come out of it.

 

[OverMountain]

You are a good son for considering your parents feelings. I don’t see this as a big issue. You are an adult, and may find a new bond with your grandfather over sparing/occasionally enjoying the tobacco pipe. Like everyone else said, be honest. The last real scientific study was the FDA study from the 60s that showed light use seemed to have no significant effect on mortality.

 

[Searock Fan]

I'm a new pipe smoker and started in the summer of '22. At the time I was 17 and now I'm 18. I smoked during summer because I don't want to smoke during winter where temperatures in Iceland can get down to -20C. When I started piping I told my parents and they were devastated and worried because I come from parents that abused drugs which in turn means I'm more likely to get addicted to things (I'm definitely not addicted to pipe smoking because I quit cold Turkey after summer). Also I am a very talented guitarist, I'm an athlete that goes 5x a week to sports practice and then 6x a week to the gym. Anyway, I told them I tried smoking a pipe once and didn't like it, which was true at that time. The hobby then grew on me and I started liking it the more I smoked my pipe. Well the summer is almost here and I want to come clean and tell my parents that I like sipping on my pipe once in a while. But it's not that simple because they are very strict, hate cigarettes and associate pipes with cigarettes, their parents used to smoke back in the day (pipes and cigarettes) and they will forever use my pipe smoking against me when I'm playing sports or tell me I waste my money on things like a pipe and tobacco. My parents got very disappointed in me and asked me where they failed me when I only told them I smoked once and didn't like it. I don't know and I also don't want to know what will happen when I tell them about my "addiction!". I need help with approaching this conversation. And I really need to tell them because they have extremely sensitive smelling-nose and there is nothing they hate more than being lied to or finding out something has been hidden from them. Btw, my grandfather will really like me even more for smoking a pipe. Anyhoo, what's my next move whilst summer is creeping in?

An easy problem the solve. Just tell your parents that smoking a pipe is helping you wean yourself off shooting up speedballs.

 

[burleybreath]

Btw, my grandfather will really like me even more for smoking a pipe.

Coolness, in my experience, skips generations.

 

[paulfg]

Their roof, their rules.

inside there house yes dont smoke if they are opposed,outside you should be free to do as you wish

 

[woodsroad]

If your parents are so distraught by the fairly innocuous issue of smoking a pipe, I’m going to assume they’ve expressed their disappointment in you many times before.

It’s time to move on with your life and to gain the self confidence that you deserve. Get a job. Move out. Until then, they set the rules. Respect that.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

Tell them

I'm a new pipe smoker and started in the summer of '22. At the time I was 17 and now I'm 18. I smoked during summer because I don't want to smoke during winter where temperatures in Iceland can get down to -20C. When I started piping I told my parents and they were devastated and worried because I come from parents that abused drugs which in turn means I'm more likely to get addicted to things (I'm definitely not addicted to pipe smoking because I quit cold Turkey after summer). Also I am a very talented guitarist, I'm an athlete that goes 5x a week to sports practice and then 6x a week to the gym. Anyway, I told them I tried smoking a pipe once and didn't like it, which was true at that time. The hobby then grew on me and I started liking it the more I smoked my pipe. Well the summer is almost here and I want to come clean and tell my parents that I like sipping on my pipe once in a while. But it's not that simple because they are very strict, hate cigarettes and associate pipes with cigarettes, their parents used to smoke back in the day (pipes and cigarettes) and they will forever use my pipe smoking against me when I'm playing sports or tell me I waste my money on things like a pipe and tobacco. My parents got very disappointed in me and asked me where they failed me when I only told them I smoked once and didn't like it. I don't know and I also don't want to know what will happen when I tell them about my "addiction!". I need help with approaching this conversation. And I really need to tell them because they have extremely sensitive smelling-nose and there is nothing they hate more than being lied to or finding out something has been hidden from them. Btw, my grandfather will really like me even more for smoking a pipe. Anyhoo, what's my next move whilst summer is creeping in?

Tell them if they don't like your pipesmoking then you'll buy a motorcycle instead.


"Personally" I didn't take up pipesmoking until I hit 30, and I wouldn't recommend ingesting Nicotine before the age of 25 (the male body isn't 100% developed until 25).
But that's just me.

 

[AJL67]

Don’t you have to be 21 to legally purchase tobacco?

 

[Icepiper]

Don’t you have to be 21 to legally purchase tobacco?

No, not where I live.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

It's really life advice not pipe advice at the core and I'd focus on people you actually know and who know your parents somewhere near where you live and in person? (If this is real).

 

[ADKPiper]

How dare you!

 

[burleybreath]

How dare you!

I want a figural pipe carved from that, with smoke coming out of its head.

 

[olkofri]

I want a figural pipe carved from that, with smoke coming out of its head.

It'd have to be a pot pipe, though.

 

[BriarsAndBottles]

I just want to say what a bunch of gentlemen this hobby seems to attract. I feel like many other forums would be telling him “your parents don’t own you”. Also the amount of people emphasizing honesty and respect is really heartwarming.

I’ve had a lot of hobbies my parents haven’t always approved up, but as I kept climbing in my career and grew a family they slowly realized they weren’t the impediments they presumed they be.

I started a pipe in 2009 at age 22, but quit cause my apartment didn’t allow it, at that time my mom and family strongly disapproved. When I started again in 2020 my life situation was vastly different and my mom had stopped caring.

 

[kcghost]

Mom's are like that in many cases.

 

[monty55]

If you want to go into your parental discussion with some ammo...

Pipe tobacco is not, in most cases, and should not be inhaled, so your not harming your lungs.
You have shown no interest in drugs before, they should trust you to continue that.
You've already shown that you know how to take care of your body through your actions, ask them to continue to trust that.

Most importantly, pipe smoking builds character. Tell them you've already proven you know how to take care of your body, now you're working on building your character, they can ask your Grandfather if they need that validated!

And bring a list of all the great people who were pipe smokers... with Albert right at the top!

 

[didimauw]

Slightly irrelevant, as is my specialty...

When I was 16 I started smoking cigarettes. I ended up telling my parents on my own, because I didn't want to hide it anymore. My dad told me he wished I didn't, but that he was smoking at that age so he didn't want to be a hippocrite. When I told my mom, she went out and bought me a pack the very next day. For her, she treated it as sort of a bonding moment, when shed buy me cigarettes. I'd never ask, shed just do it on her own.
So my mom was a big help in my love of tobacco, 17 years ago.

 

[Streeper541]

I would say two things...

First, you're a grown man, do what you please.

Second, if you have ask the opinion of internet forum members whom you've never met on how to interact with your parents... you might not be mature enough to smoke a pipe. If that is the case, disregard my first statement.

 

[jpmcwjr]

No, not where I live.

Please put your location in your Profile, as people are forgetful.
Why: It will save time for others as to where you live when you mention local stores, weather, tobacco prices, availability, regulations, location of photos, wildfires, air quality, etc. In many instances that saves time for those who read your posts, and for you in not having to reply to inquiries. .
How:
Under your avatar, (top right, left most of three symbols) you choose "Account Details", which brings up "My Account". "My Location" is halfway down. Whatever you're comfortable with- town, city, county, state. province, etc.