Do you also hate parents that feed their children junk food or food/drink full of artificial sweeteners? Surely they are being as "bad" as a smoking parent, encouraging the possible development of heart disease and cancer in their offspring? Yes I am a parent that smokes, although I must admit it's me that stands outside in the cold and wet definitely not my children (both were born at just under 9lb, and remain perfectly healthy). We all know that smoking (along with many other things) is bad for us but it is not the sole cause for the increase in childhood asthma and allergies. If it were then how is it that less people smoke but more people suffer from allergies and asthma than ever before?