My parents freaked when they first found out I smoked. Having a cop bring me home in the middle of the night after being busted for possesion didn't help either. There was nothing quite like the look my Pop's face as the cop was explainng why he was standing at the front door with me. We continued a never ending cycle of my parents catching me, punishing me, and then catching me again until I finally moved out of their house.

That was 15 years ago and, despite my terrible relationship with my parents back then, we get along great now. In addition to time healing the wounds between me and my parents, becommng a parent myself has made me understand a few things. I know this sounds pretty lame, but your parents only want you to quit smoking because they care about you. I know that it is hard to understand and accept when you're young but the moment you have a little one of your own it becomes so apparent. Suddenly all the things your parents did suddenly make a lot of sense.