Gift of a tobacco free Mother’s Day

May 14, 2012
by anonymous

Becoming a mother is one of God’s greatest gifts to a woman and Mother’s Day is a day to celebrate moms for who they are and all of the wonderful things they do. Unfortunately, tobacco use among women remains a serious problem: more than 21 million women currently smoke; an estimated 173,000 women die every year from smoking; and more than 86,000 kids have already lost their mothers to smoking.  In Wisconsin, 160 children lose their moms each year to a smoking-related death.

On this special day for moms, we should remember that a terrific way to celebrate Mother’s Day might be to pledge to give moms who currently smoke the kind of loving support, encouragement and information that could help them to be tobacco-free before Mother’s Day next year.

Support systems take a different path for each individual. The path is not a judgmental path, but one of encouragement. Ceasing the smoking habit is one way of defining that beauty and ensuring every mother lives to enjoy the beauty her child will bring her.

Trying to quit smoking by yourself – without professional help – is difficult for most.  But there’s lots of help to make quitting easier.  The Wisconsin Quit Line (1 800 QUIT NOW) is free and available around the clock.  They’re often able to provide free access to patches or inhalers to give you some extra help quitting.  So this Mother’s day, we encourage mothers to give themselves and their family the gift of a tobacco free life.  The decision to quit could literally be a life-saver.

Vanessa Johnson
Executive Director
New Concept Self Development Center, Inc.

Member of the Wisconsin African American Tobacco Prevention Network (WAATPN)