“She (mothers) may know that the character of her children will depend vastly more upon her habits before their birth and her personal efforts after their birth than upon external advantages or disadvantages.” (The Signs of the Times, February 26, 1902)  Asthma is one of the most common chronic disorders in childhood, currently affecting an estimated 7.1 million children under 18 years; of which 4.1 million suffered from an asthma attack or episode in 2011. Asthma is the third leading cause of hospitalization among children under the age of 15.” (American Lung Association, October 2012) Cigarette smoking, stress, allergens and indoor pollutants can all exacerbate this condition but a study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health reveals a relationship between asthma in teens and the weight of the mother. Teens were likely to have up to 30% more asthma-like symptoms if their mothers were overweight or obese during pregnancy than those whose mothers were normal weight. Teens with the heaviest mothers were 47% more likely to have severe respiratory difficulties. (Vibrant Life Health Magazine, Nov/Dec. 2012, page 4) So why not chose today to be, “Temperate in all things.”