It’s our one month anniversary of being a family of 4! Can’t actually believe it’s gone so quickly. I remember when Ava was a baby everyone kept commenting on how quickly they grow up and I thought they were crazy, the time was dragging but now, second time around, it really does feel like time has sped up to warp speed. Another week has past of my maternity leave, I’ve been on leave a whole month, even though it only feels like a week and I only have 3 months of maternity leave left, which will, no doubt, pass in the blink of an eye.
The 24th April is a significant day. It’s not just the day that Hannah was placed with us, but it was also the last time I smoked a cigarette *shock horror*! Yes, I smoked. Like an idiot, I made a terrible mistake a while ago…. I hadn’t been a smoker in more than 7 years, went through a really stressful time at work and made the fatal mistake of joining my colleagues on the balcony to let off some steam and puff a ciggie. And just like that I was hooked again…. You know that saying… One puff away from a pack a day? Ja, that was me! Addictive genes run in my family, past down from my dad’s side and clearly, those genetics did not skip me!
But I swore to myself, to my husband and to our future child that I would NOT smoke when we had a second placement. I had not been a smoker when Ava and I was not going to do that to our second baby. Though I have never been an indoor smoker, I had read articles that clearly indicated that the chemicals in clothing and hair negatively affected the health of children and babies.
Here is one such example:
Terrifying isn’t it? Its one thing to destroy my own health, but quite another to damage the health of my innocent children.
So it’s a month today since I last smoked. It took almost 2 weeks for my breath to loose the cigarette smell, which must have been really revolting for Walter. So far my sense of smell and taste has normalized and I can see a dramatic change in my skin, it looks much healthier, is glowing and my pores look more refined. While I have not struggled to quit at all, which is really odd, the only side effect I had was dizziness for about an hour a day after I had my last smoke, I don’t really enjoy being around smokers. They stink. I stank. And the smell of cigarette smoke instantly blocks my nose now.
I really hope this will be the last time I have to quit, I just need to not be a wise ass and think that I can have a puff here and there with friends over a couple of drinks, that kind of smoking ALWAYS catches me and it will once again be on puff away from a pack a day.
Already a 100% mom, but not legally. Considered foster for now. says
As an ex-smoker who could so easily revert back to the smelly habit, I can so relate. I also quit (when I got married) for the sake of my husband & future children. Congrats on one month of being a family of 4 & congrats on quitting smoking 🙂
Sian says
Well done! Its really is the best thing. I am making this my last quit too. 24 days (with one slip) for me…..! 🙂
Rene; says
Very proud of you !
jenny says
I quit for over seven years too Shaz and then during the most stressful time of my life I started again. Luckily I fell pregnant and was just too sick to smoke again so I stopped again. What starting again taught me was that I too am a complete addict – one slip and I will be back to a pack a day. It is gross and smelly and I look and feel 10000 times better and I couldn’t believe how expensive ciggies got in the seven years I quit but… I miss it. I know I am still an addict and can’t do it. But if I ever get told I have little time left to live, I am cracking open a box of puffs! Well Done for Quitting!
gen says
Well done Sharon,i started again when Olivia was 8 months then as soon as i found out that i was pregnant with Molly i stopped!
now to try not to go back again is really work, and we have to just work at it everyday as our kids deserve it! nothing worse than a smelly mommy!
cat@jugglingact says
Well done to you!