Like many aspects of life in the United States, parenting is increasingly done in isolation. American adults report spending 30 percent less time doing face-to-face socializing than they did twenty years ago. (Teenagers report spending almost 50 percent less time.) This conversation provides an opportunity for parents and caregivers to reflect on how we engage with friends and community and how social connectedness and community support affect parenting and caregiving. How does the presence or absence of extended family affect how we raise children? Can there be nontraditional extended families? Join Catherine Feeny to explore the conventions and norms that prevent us from building intimacy and experiencing mutual support and consider strategies for building connections to support families and others in our communities.

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Catherine Feeny is a mom, an artist, a worship leader, and a facilitator who works with kids and older adults. She grew up around immediate and extended family with deep roots in the Philadelphia area. Relocating to the Northwest after stints in California and England has been an ongoing exercise in community building, with mixed results. She is curious to learn about other people’s strategies for building and maintaining deep connections outside of the nuclear family.