We are expecting our first child and differing on the way to approach the issue of smoking. My partner does not smoke and I quit four years ago; however, all four of her siblings and three of their spouses smoke. All of her adult nieces, nephews and most importantly her mother smokes. They all smoke constantly! How can we approach the subject of exposure of the toxins to our child with the family? Not just secondhand smoke, but the tar, nicotine and other poisons on thier hands and clothes after lighting up?

Lately my kids, 9 and 5, seem terribly ungrateful. Every time we do something fun there is a meltdown when it ends. I understand that it's disappointing when a good time is over but the lack of appreciation coupled with the hysterics when leaving drives me crazy. Today I had a fun surprise planned. I picked them up from their friends pool, pizza, movie sleep over) and I was greeted with pouty kids. I cancelled our plans. Why do they deserve a treat? Am I being too harsh? What works?