Masters of Health Magazine May 2023 | Page 65

Grandmother’s Love & Wisdom

Nothing can compare with a grandmother’s love & wisdom.  In addition to their motherly instincts and ability to nurture, grandmothers have mastered the trials and tribulations of motherhood better than anyone.  Grandmothers accrue knowledge and wisdom from a lifetime of experiences.  In many Asian, Latin, and European cultures, grandmothers are highly revered and valued as the family matriarch for their attributes.

Throughout history, grandmothers have played prominent roles in family life - often, as trusted advisors or primary caregivers when mothers were absent because of work, additional pregnancies, or other circumstances.

Grandmother’s love and wisdom raised and enriched many of us.  She instilled values and taught us unique skills not offered at school.  She was always there for us when Mother was absent. 

In different languages, grandmothers are lovingly referred to by names such as:

Grandma, Grandmama, Granny, and Nanny in English, Abuela/Spanish, Amma/Islandic, Avia/Latin, Babushka/Russian, Bestemor/Norwegian, Grand-mere/French, Kuia/Maori, Kupunawaihini/Hawaiian, Lola/Filipino, Mormor/Swedish, Nain/Welsh, Nonna/Italy,Oma/German, Tinamatua/Samoan, Vecmamina/Latvian, Wai po, Zumu/Chinese, and so on.

A Smithsonian science magazine article by Elizabeth Landau reported on the extensive studies of the Hadza, a group of hunter-gatherers in Tanzania, by Anthropology Professor Kristen Hawkes at the University of Utah.  Professor Hawkes and colleagues concluded that grandmothers played a central role in the life history of Homo sapiens.  Also, grandmothers were a driving force behind the increased longevity of our species compared to other primates. 

by Lady Carla Davis, MPH

Specializing in Nutrition

GEP Minister for Environment

Timurid conqueror Babur seeks the advice of

grandmother.