It was wonderful to welcome both new and longtime families to the February Family Network Conversation. The evening was full of warmth and reflection, with families connecting in meaningful and generous ways.
Here’s a recap of the conversation …
Families began by sharing warm hellos and weather updates from across the province. A reading of Donna Ashworth’s Lunar New Year poem – As The Snake Leaves – invited families to reflect on what they might gently release this year and what new adventures, relationships, and possibilities they hoped to welcome.
As The Snake Leaves
What will you give to the snake to take,
as it leaves?
Which skin will you bravely shed?
How much space will you create for new
adventures up ahead?
What will you pledge to let go?
What will you shake yourself out of
to let new shoots grow?
What will you leave?
What will you let yourself grieve?
Which new thoughts will you now believe?
The snake slithers out –
the fire-horse’s hooves thunder in.
What will you leave, my love?
What will you begin?
~ Donna Ashworth
Gathering in groups of two, families continued to consider questions such as:
What might you gently release this year?
What new adventures, relationships, or possibilities do you hope to welcome?
As families came back together into a full circle we heard stories about loved ones, with highlights of creativity, perseverance, humour, and the many ways families nurture belonging and full, rich lives.
A strong theme of the evening was care for the caregiver. Families spoke about noticing their own well-being, creating small moments of rest and joy, and staying curious about what could be possible for themselves and their families. One family member’s story about a 23-day push-up challenge for mental health awareness sparked a lively conversation about personal practices that help caregivers reset and stay grounded.
The conversation closed with a reflection on the gift economy, inspired by Robin Wall Kimmerer’s The Serviceberry. Families considered how listening, encouragement, and showing up for one another are powerful contributions.
In a gift economy, wealth is understood as having enough to share, and the practice for dealing with abundance is to give it away. In fact, status is determined not by how much one accumulates, but by how much one gives away. The currency in a gift economy is relationship, which is expressed as gratitude, as interdependence and the ongoing cycle of reciprocity. A gift economy nurtures the community bonds that enhance mutual well-being; the economic unit is ‘we’ rather than ‘I,’ as all flourishing is mutual. pp. 32-33
Overall, the February Family Network conversation captured a sense of mutual gratitude, connection, and commitment to a continued journey alongside each other in the months ahead.
Thank you to all who joined. We look forward to connecting again during the March PLAN Family Network conversation on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Further conversation details will be shared closer to the event date.
For further conversation details please connect with Claire Inkster, Family Network Coordinator, at hello@plan.ca