Bringing Up Geeks

June 30, 2008
Columnist, author and mother Hicks (The Perfect World Inside My Minivan) reminds us that raising children, difficult in itself, can become a Herculean task at odds with the world around us. Hicks explains how parents can protect their children's innocence while teaching thoughtfulness, critical thinking skills, proper behavior and spirituality to better help them navigate childhood obstacles-peer pressure, pop culture and ubiquitous media input-and pave the road for healthy, engaged adulthood. Using stories and examples from her own life, Hicks sets out ten rules for parents to follow; in a curious turn of phrase, Hicks reclaims the childhood taunt "GEEK" by defining it as a "genuine, enthusiastic, empowered kid," and turns around several other concepts-"brainiac," "late bloomer," "sheltered," "homebody"-to find their true value. The ideal outcome is a child who's socially connected but immune to the negative effects of peer pressure, advertising and media. Hicks's helpful, strident guide is conversational and at times humorous, encouraging assertive parenting and independent thinking (saying "no," disregarding other parents' ideas), with action plans to implement, further advice drawn from experts and a copious resource list.

August 11, 2008
Columnist, author and mother Hicks (The Perfect World Inside My Minivan) reminds us that raising children, difficult in itself, can become a Herculean task at odds with the world around us. Hicks explains how parents can protect their children's innocence while teaching thoughtfulness, critical thinking skills, proper behavior and spirituality to better help them navigate childhood obstacles-peer pressure, pop culture and ubiquitous media input-and pave the road for healthy, engaged adulthood. Using stories and examples from her own life, Hicks sets out ten rules for parents to follow; in a curious turn of phrase, Hicks reclaims the childhood taunt "GEEK" by defining it as a "genuine, enthusiastic, empowered kid," and turns around several other concepts-"brainiac," "late bloomer," "sheltered," "homebody"-to find their true value. The ideal outcome is a child who's socially connected but immune to the negative effects of peer pressure, advertising and media. Hicks's helpful, strident guide is conversational and at times humorous, encouraging assertive parenting and independent thinking (saying "no," disregarding other parents' ideas), with action plans to implement, further advice drawn from experts and a copious resource list.

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