LOL!! They don't smoke because you ask? Are you serious?? You'll find out ten years from now just like I did. Please bookmark my name and let me know. I did all the right things you think you're doing now. Smoking doesn't have anything to do with character even though you made it so. There are a lot of very honorable people who smoke cigarettes. There are also a lot of very dishonorable people who don't smoke cigarettes. Did you even read the article? Or you think it just doesn't apply to you since you "ask"? Or you think this is about smokintg instead of character. If so, then you're one of the parents the article was about in the first place.
Your under the mistaken notion that lies by omission are truth . If mine were to either cheat or smoke they would have to lie to me and that is a character flaw. You didn't make yourself aware, the example you set was to smoke. I care very much to know what they are doing, with who, where and when. My kids are watched like hawks. If indeed in 10 years I find out I have been lied to, tricked or unaware of bad behavior I will be ashamed of both myself and my children.
I read the article... More American parents would be upset with their teenage children if they smoked a cigarette than if they cheated on a test.... Obviously, since you were unaware your response to the question would be if you knew - you didn't.
I have no doubts your children are fine upstanding adults, but my original response was to your statement that they did sneak around and smoke, to have to sneak around meant they knew they doing something wrong.