Courtney was a pack-a-day smoker for a very long time. But after she saw her son playing with a cigarette, it convinced her to change her life.
I had been smoking nearly every day from the age of 14.
When I found out I was pregnant with my first son, I was able to quit cold turkey with no help because I knew it wasn't only me it was affecting anymore.
I started smoking again, three months after my son was born, but felt so guilty. I was disappointed in myself. No more than a month later I was pregnant with my second son and the same thing happened. I had not even a puff of a cigarette for the whole duration and two months after giving birth to my second son, I started up again!
This time I felt horrible. I had trouble losing the 25 kilos that slowly came on over two years and I struggled with depression. My husband has never smoked a day in his life and although he hated me smoking, he never pressured me to stop because he wanted me to give up for myself, not because he wanted me to.
Another whole year passed and by now my eldest son was two years old. We were at a friend's barbecue and he had gotten into a cigarette pack, pulling out a cigarette and put the butt end in his mouth. I ran over and took it away disgusted, humiliated, and I blamed myself that he even knew what to do with a cigarette.
From that day, I did not touch another cigarette and I am now three years on. I am completely happy and healthy. We have a smoke-free household and I am finally proud to say that I am a good role model for my children.
