Parenting Children to Independence
Nonfiction
Parenting is one of life’s greatest joys, but it can also feel like
an overwhelming journey filled with doubts, challenges, and endless
questions. In Stupid Carrot, M.D., pediatrician Dr. Kenneth Cruse draws on
over 30 years of experience helping families navigate the ups and downs of
raising children—and his own experiences as a father—to create a
practical and relatable guide for parents at every stage.
From sleepless newborn nights to the unpredictable teenage years, Dr. Cruse
addresses key milestones in child development with warmth, humor, and expert
insights. This book dives into today’s most pressing pediatric
challenges, including:
Electronic communication and social media
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- Alcohol and substance abuse
- Sexuality and gender identity
- Building resilience and independence
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Packed with lighthearted anecdotes, real-life stories, and actionable
advice, Stupid Carrot, MD. reassures parents that they are not alone in the
chaos of raising children. Whether you’re navigating your first diaper
change or your teenager’s social life, this book is a trusted
companion, helping you empower your kids to become confident, independent
adults.
EXCERPT
Introduction
Ker-thunk! Ker-thunk! Ker-thunk! Ker-thunk!
My wife and I immediately knew what had happened.
We had just moved into our new home and were feverishly laying cabinet paper and unpacking. Our children were seven, four, and two years of age at the time. We were trying to entertain our youngest with his toys as we unpacked them. He immediately ran to his rolling horse and began playing on it. We turned back to our projects for a moment, and then we heard the fateful Ker-thunk.
We ran to the top of the stairs to see our son lying flat on his back, dazed and bruised, as he had just wildly charged his horse down the stairs, screaming “WEEEEEE” until he hit the lower floor!
When an independent mind begins to make its own choices, which result in surprising consequences “right under our nose,” it is a reminder of the unpredictability of parenting. Whether it is a toddler’s decision to climb a piece of furniture and subsequently fall and hurt himself or a teenager’s decision to experiment with drugs or alcohol, parents are constantly regrouping to deal with the aftereffects.
One purpose of parenting is to limit such events by guiding children to make the right choices at all developmental ages. It is filled with moments of laughter and tears, and it involves sleepless nights leading to incredible fatigue. Despite its challenges, parenting is an incredible experience of personal growth while promoting another life before your own and relishing the result. It is an experience like none other.
This book explores the journey of parenting from birth to adolescence from the perspective of a parent who happens to be a pediatrician. It starts with the newborn period and continues through the milestones of toilet training, language development, school entry, and adolescence. It recognizes that parents and children make mistakes, and both survive them. It discusses current and past issues of parenting and reminds the reader that from the time the umbilical cord is cut, parents must be prepared to confront challenges that arise as they actively guide their children toward independence.
As a prelude to this journey, I would like to reflect on the everchanging world of healthcare. Most of us are aware of the history of modern medicine, including milestone events such as the discovery of antibiotics, the first coronary bypass surgery, the control of infectious diseases by vaccination, and the identification and treatment of mental illness. There has been controversy amid each discovery, but time has proven them to be great advances. As the landscape of healthcare and parenting continues to change, it is crucial not to instinctively deny or decry advances but to carefully analyze them and incorporate them into strategies to improve healthcare for children.
I invite you to come along as I discuss my personal and professional adventure of parenting as both a doctor and a father. I discuss changes in care that have modified our decisions over time and offer updates on common medical conditions that arise with children. My hope is that you gain an appreciation for the complicities of parenthood and can apply it to your own parenting journey.
About the Author
Kenneth J. Cruse, MD, FAAP
Dr. Cruse has been a practicing pediatrician in Thibodaux, LA, since 1995.
He graduated from St. Louis University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO,
in 1991. He completed his internship and residency at Baylor College of
Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, TX, in 1994. After
practicing as an emergency room pediatrician at Children’s Hospital in
New Orleans, LA, he opened his private practice in Thibodaux. He has
witnessed tremendous changes in medical care for children during his tenure
in practice.
During this time, he and his wife, Maria, who is also a physician, reared
their three children while working in their respective fields. They have
always stressed the importance of instilling solid foundations for their
children to allow them to be independent adults. He feels he learned so much
from his own children, and this made him a better father and a better
pediatrician. Stupid Carrot, M.D. is a culmination of both his personal and
professional experiences which he openly shares with readers to assist them
on their parenting journey.
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