Son turning Eighteen, the big 18, wants a cigar

[aea6574]

Howdy All:

I hope you are doing great.

Ok, I am in a bit of a quandary about this and figured I would come to you fine folks for some advice since my wife is offering me no guidance.

My oldest son will turn 18 on the 24th and has mentioned a couple of times that he would like a cigar. Now the question I have is do I indulge this and take him out for a cigar on his birthday? A father son type thing. Or do I let him learn these experiences with his friends?

I am not sure how I feel about this, he will be 18 and technically a man. He is also my first born and still my boy. If I have a cigar with him will I be starting him on a slippery slope?

I would really appreciate any and all insight and thoughts on this one.

Best regards, tony

 

[Chase]

My thoughts on this is that if he has already expressed a intrest in it then one way or the other he is going to do it, with or without your assistance.

That being said I think it would be a great bonding oppertunity with your son. There is some memories that last forever and sharing my first cigar with my father and having him show me the "right" ways to enjoy a cigar would be one of them.

 

[rick12string]

Howdy All:

I hope you are doing great.

Ok, I am in a bit of a quandary about this and figured I would come to you fine folks for some advice since my wife is offering me no guidance.

My oldest son will turn 18 on the 24th and has mentioned a couple of times that he would like a cigar. Now the question I have is do I indulge this and take him out for a cigar on his birthday? A father son type thing. Or do I let him learn these experiences with his friends?

I am not sure how I feel about this, he will be 18 and technically a man. He is also my first born and still my boy. If I have a cigar with him will I be starting him on a slippery slope?

I would really appreciate any and all insight and thoughts on this one.

Best regards, tony

If he is interested he will go down the slippery slope anyway. I think it would be a nice memory for you both to share. I see others here that have family they can share smokes with and I wish I had the same. I wish I could share a smoke with my father. Take him out and enjoy something special together. Just remember he's a newb so be carefull on your selection so it is a pleasant smoking experience for him!

 

[USNStoops]

I say you and him should embrace the moment. The day before my 18th birthday my Grandfather and I sat in his living room and smoked my first official cigar. It was a Henry Clay that rated 89 in the Cigar Aficionado that had Dennis Hoffer on the cover. To this very day I have both the magazine and a henry clay tube that I received on that day. I would hate to see you miss out on such a special occasion with him. Heck it has been 8 almost 9 years for me and I can still close my eyes and remember it like it was yesterday.

 

[Carpe diGar]

Yes an interesting issue - I agree with Chad above - I would explain the risk associated and then enjoy the time together making a lasting memory. There are many things in life he'll be making decisions on - some will have pluses and minuses - this is one of them.

As a son I can tell you I remember the day my father and I took a break from working on a Saturday and he said "lets take a break, go get us a couple beers from the house". I'm pushing 50!

 

[Carpe diGar]

I should add this was as a teenager LOL!!!!

 

[carbolicsmoke]

What slippery slope? I can't wait for the opportunity to take my son out for his own cigar on his 18th B-day....he already samples mine......unlike the other responders, I can't identify with your hesitation .....don't you want to pass on this enjoyable hobby to your son?

 

[Grego]

He is going to try it eventually with or without you,

 

[whodeeni]

Might as well brotha, better these than cigarettes, teach him the finer points (inhale vs. not inhale etc....) and savor the moment...

 

[Jhard1121]

I think this would be a great father son bonding experience. I wish my father would have done that, except he refuses to smoke anything. He will go down that slope even if he tries them with his friends, thats how I started smoking cigars. Best of luck and happy b-day to your son!

 

[Mitch]

I think any time you can find a way to further bond with your kids is golden. As far as cigars being a vice, your son is 18 and it's time to remove the bubble wrap so he can grow on his own, and if you are lucky he'll come back for advice now and then, maybe over a good cigar.

My .02

 

[Gokian]

I think it would be a great bonding experience for the both of you. I look at cigars as a hobby and try not to treat them as a bad thing. Cigarettes on the other hand I think they are a serious health issue that can hurt you in the long run. Make sure you explain the differences on how to smoke a cigar and how not too.

Just My .02

 

[secretsquirrel]

As for smoking a cigar with my dad no. But when I turned 21 he did take me out to the casino and payed for everything. Then again gambling is his vice of choice. He was not afflicted but showing me that.. I agree with the post above

 

[Wayne80]

Take him out and enjoy the bonding moment, 18 only comes around once, if he doesn't pick it up or thoroughly enjoy it then problem solved. However if he does enjoy it, then its just one more thing for you two to share.

 

[strife]

I agree with everything previously stated and would like to add that if you can have the woman in Wayne80's avatar tag along it would be a plus.

 

[Wayne80]

I agree with everything previously stated and would like to add that if you can have the woman in Wayne80's avatar tag along it would be a plus.

:clap: HA HA HA

 

[Iminspired]

Tony,

I had just turned 18 not more than half a year ago; I wish my father would have been the first person I had shared a fine cigar with.

I believe that as long as he is educated about the risks with the hobby and that you express your own concern about how you personally conceive the hobby to be a slippery slope for him (be honest), he'll be able to respect the cigar in the same way as you. Make sure he knows he, although he might have been influenced by you, is making his choice to smoke by himself, as his own now being as a man. I would myself feel damn guilty if my own son would have, God forbid, contracted cancer or anything of the sort because of a hobby I introduced him to, but I think this worry is revoked as long as he can come to the same understanding about cigars as you.

All technicalities aside, and as already said before by fellow brothers, it would be a great opportunity for bonding with your son. These days, I'm sad to say that, from what I have seen in my peer groups at least, family bonding is becoming very "uncool"
in a sense; take the opportunity and behold it. Maybe even suggest him only engage in cigars with you?

Things that stop me, or in other words limit, my cigar smoking are two facts: 1. Cigars, especially great ones, are expensive (so maybe let him by his own cigars, it would definitely teach him how to live on a budget; not to be buy luxury in excess); and 2. Not many teenagers my age smoke cigars. I only say this to show the slim possibility of him having great cigars everyday; getting too "slippery" on the slope.

All things aside, I'm definitely for, as with what all the brothers have said above, for the experience with your son! I'm excited to hear as to what cigar you treated him to!

Always,
Aaron

 

[Alwayslit]

Make it a father and son event. His first cigar should be a t110 or a opus power ranger....................just joking. This would be a good bonding time for the both of you. I would do it with my sons if they asked on their 18th birthday.

 

[lafayettelauren]

I think it would be a great way for you and your son to bond. Even if you do explain the risks to him he will probably ignore that part of the conversation being a teenager. I wish my father had done something memorable like that with me. You never know but this could be the one thing that steers him away from cigarettes or even drugs. Pick him out something decent and mild and remember to take pictures to share with us.

 

[Hardcore]

It sounds like he is going to try a stick with or without you. I think he just wants you to be a part of it with him. Thats an honor. I think it would be a great memory to have with him. Just make sure he doesn't smoke all your stash, lol.