"Nothing Is Black And White" — A Parent's Perspective On The Smoking Ban
The more we go against the new generation, the more rebellious they get.
By Vanessa May — 26 Jul 2022, 04:25 PM
This morning, I observed my daughter playing with her toys and books. I offered her a new book, but she refused to touch it.
Instead, she only wanted her old book titled Emily's Day. When I tried to insist that she accept the new book I was offering, she got angry and threw the book away.
Her action shocked me! How could a four-year-old kid behave like that? I stared at her in disbelief.
I realised that from as young as four years old, my kid has started making her own decisions. When given a choice, she will decide on what is best for her, according to her own likes and dislikes.
Her decision to reject the new book could be due to a variety of reasons — maybe she does not like it or does not understand it, or maybe she just feels a stronger connection to Emily.
As a parent, we always want to give our children the best. But have we ever asked our children what they want or like?
For instance, if a child is forced to attend piano classes, do you think they will thrive and play it well? Even in the case where they prefer learning a different instrument like drums instead, we insist on them learning piano 'for their own good', which is the reason we always use.
Today's generation wants to make their own choices and decisions. The more we go against them, the more rebellious they get. Just look at my daughter's case as an example.
Recently, there has been a hot debate regarding the potential implementation of the new tobacco bill in our country
Bear in mind that I am not a smoker, but this debate has still caught my attention. While there are supporters who support the bill or even the Generational EndGame, on the other hand, there are those who are against it. Interestingly, both sides of the argument somewhat make sense.
As a parent, I certainly do not want my children to smoke cigarettes or touch any tobacco products, including vape. But then, how much can I control them?
I cannot expect them to stay in the house all the time — at some point, they will meet their uncles and aunties, go to school, exchange knowledge with friends, and travel around. This raises the question of can we stop them from being exposed to tobacco products and vape when they are out there?
Personally, I believe nothing is black and white in this world
Consider these examples:
- Morphine is usually related to crime, but can also be used to alleviate pain
- Paraquat was invented to be an effective herbicide, but is poisonous to humans
- Wine can increase blood-flow circulation, but can also lead to health problems like liver disease
I, for one, think that instead of banning cigarettes, vape, and all smoking devices for people born after 2005, these generations deserve to be educated and have access to the right information
With this knowledge, they will then be able to make better decisions in their lives.
Otherwise, when they chance upon any tobacco or vape products, they would be more intrigued to try them out. So, rather than having them behave like katak di bawah tempurung, I choose for my children to receive the right education even when it comes to tobacco and vape products.
This story is a personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the position of SAYS.
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