I'm sorry that your mom smokes. You can't force her to quit- but you can help her. There is a national quit line that can give your mom free counseling and free nicotine patches. The number is 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

My husband Eric is a smoking cessation counselor and answers calls at this number. I know from talking with him that it is very, very hard to quit cigarettes- and it won't be easy for your mom to do so. But that doesn't mean it's impossible!

One immediate, huge change she could make for the health of everyone is to stop smoking in the house. Not only will it make the house a safer environment for you and your pets, but it will help change the conditioning she is used to- changing smoking habits can be a step to quitting entirely. Have her call the number and try to encourage her to smoke outside. Over 50,000 people die each year just from second hand smoke, and if even she decides to smoke, it doesn't mean you have to have suffer if she is willing to move outside.