Jun 12, 2026

Wisdom Keepers: The Role of Grandmothers

by Vanessa Vidal

Grandmothers have long held a subtle yet powerful role in human society as repositories of wisdom, emotional grounding, and stability within families and communities. Across cultures, older women have traditionally served as moral guides and calming presences during times of stress, conflict, and uncertainty.

Cultures around the world recognize and honor these elder women in unique ways: For example, Nonnas in Italy, Babushkas in Russia, NaiNais in China, Abuelas in Mexico, Yayias in Greece, Dadis and Nanis in India, and Halmoni in South Korea all reflect traditions that value the wisdom of grandmothers. In Indonesia, grandmothers help settle major family disputes, while in Ghana they are consulted by village leaders to resolve community conflicts. In many North American Indigenous traditions, clan mothers guide communities, mediate disputes, uphold harmony, and even help select or remove Tribal leaders.

Modern psychology increasingly supports what traditional societies have long understood intuitively: emotionally grounded older women can profoundly influence the wellbeing of younger generations. Research published in Current Psychology suggests that grandparents help younger family members develop emotional regulation and social competence, while studies in Frontiers in Psychology associate grandparent support during childhood with improved emotional wellbeing in adulthood. Grandparents often act as emotional buffers that reduce stress and protect against mental health challenges.

Grandmothers also preserve family traditions, recipes, language, celebrations, and stories, helping younger generations remain connected to their cultural roots and family identity. They strengthen family bonds by bringing relatives together, serving as peacemakers during conflict, and offering practical support through childcare, parenting guidance, and everyday assistance. Through their example, they model values such as kindness, patience, resilience, compassion, and respect, while family stories and memories help children develop a stronger sense of identity and belonging.

However, becoming a source of calm and wisdom is not guaranteed simply by aging. Many older women carry significant responsibilities—caring for spouses, supporting adult children, helping raise grandchildren, and managing modern-life pressures—which can result in stress and fatigue. The calm presence often associated with wise grandmothers is not merely an innate personality trait, but a quality that can be consciously cultivated.

One approach many mothers and grandmothers have found helpful for cultivating greater inner stability is the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique. Practiced for 20 minutes twice daily while sitting comfortably with the eyes closed, TM is designed to allow the mind and body to settle into deep rest. Scientific studies have associated the practice with reductions in stress, anxiety, psychological distress, anger, and fatigue, along with improvements in mood, sleep quality, self-efficacy, and overall quality of life.

Emotional states are often contagious within households, and children naturally absorb emotional cues from the adults around them. A calm and emotionally regulated grandmother can help create an atmosphere of reassurance through patient listening, thoughtful responses, and steadiness during emotional challenges. In this way, the inner development of older women can quietly become a form of service to families and communities alike.

The Transcendental Meditation program is not about withdrawing from life, but about strengthening the inner foundation from which life is lived. As more women cultivate inner balance and resilience, they may also rediscover an ancient and meaningful role—not only as caretakers of families, but as guardians of emotional harmony, wisdom, continuity, and spiritual stability across generations.

Culture inner harmony. Contact a certified TM teacher in your area.

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About the Author

Vanessa Vidal is the national director of TM for Women in the USA

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