"The Good For Our Kids"

Travels From: East Lansing, MI

“Marybeth Hicks reminds us that boundaries and structure are good for our kids, and they might actually thank us later for helping them to grow into grounded and productive adults. Bringing Up Geeks is the perfect antidote to a narcissistic, celebutante-obsessed culture.”  

                    -Sean Herriott
                    Co-Host, Relevant Radio Network’s “Morning Air”

Marybeth Hicks began her career in the White House where she scribed special correspondence and talking points for President Ronald Reagan. Today, her writing has shifted to focus on the most important job in the world—being a parent.

Author and speaker Marybeth Hicks is the weekly family columnist for The Washington Times, the general interest daily newspaper located in the nation's capital known across the country as “America’s newspaper.” Marybeth’s column “Then again…” appears on the cover of the Family Times section and explores issues and experiences that affect families and shape communities.

Marybeth is also a popular speaker on culture and parenting issues. In addition to dozens of schools and parishes, she has spoken at the Harvard Kids Risk Symposium, the National Catholic Education Association, the National Engaged Encounter Conference and the Mid West Catholic Family Conference. 

Marybeth Hicks is also the author of two parenting books. Bringing up Geeks: How to Protect Your Kid’s Childhood in a Grow-up-too-fast World (Penguin/Berkley, July 2008)) includes a foreword by child advocate Dr. Kimberly Thompson, founder of Harvard’s Kids Risk project.

Marybeth’s first book, The Perfect World Inside My Minivan–One Mom’s Journey Through the Streets of Suburbia (Faith Publishing), is a special collection of columns that appeared originally in The Washington Times. This book was selected by the Catholic Press Association as one of the three most outstanding family books for 2006.

She also is a contributor to four anthologies, The Ultimate Christmas (HCI, 2008), Amazing Grace for Survivors and Amazing Grace for Families (Ascension Press, 2008) and Amazing Grace for Mothers (Ascension Press, 2004).

Marybeth’s columns are syndicated each week to several nationally prominent web sites including jewishworldreview.com, catholicexchange.com, catholicmom.com, preciousmoms.com, and mommasaid.net. She has been published in Detroit’s Metro Parent Magazine, and the nationally syndicated Faith Magazine.

A popular radio personality, Hicks appears regularly on several national and regional radio programs including Morning Air, the flagship morning drive show on Relevant Radio, the SonRise Morning Show (EWTN, January 2009) and the Michigan Talk Networks syndicated The Big Show with Michael Patrick Shiels.

After the White House, Hicks worked as a professional communicator for educational, healthcare and corporate institutions. A Michigan resident, Marybeth was a gubernatorial appointee to the board of the Michigan Children’s Trust Fund. She currently serves on the advisory board of Partnership for Learning, a national non-profit that promotes school success.

Hicks is a graduate of Michigan State University.

She and her husband of 21 years, Jim Hicks, a law professor, are the proud parents of four children: Katie, 19; Betsy, 16; Jimmy, 14; and Amy, 10.

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