Listening to the Wisdom of Grandmothers
Honoring the wisdom, resilience, and untold stories of elder women in our communities.
When many people hear the word grandmother, they think of cookies, holidays, family gatherings, and warm memories. While those images are beautiful, they tell only part of the story.
For generations, our culture has often confined grandmothers to the background—valuing their nurturing presence while overlooking their wisdom, leadership, and lived experience. In a world that frequently celebrates youth and productivity, the voices of elder women are too often unheard.
But what is a grandmother, really?
A grandmother is more than a woman whose children have children. She is a keeper of stories, a witness to history, a carrier of resilience, and a source of wisdom earned through decades of living. Many women enter their elder years with a lifetime of experience, insight, and compassion that our communities desperately need.
The Global Grandmothers' Council Network
This understanding is at the heart of the Global Grandmothers' Council Network (GGCN), a worldwide community that brings together women from many nations, cultures, and backgrounds. Its purpose is simple: to create space for elder women to gather, share their wisdom, support one another, and contribute their voices to the challenges and opportunities facing our world.
Many people know me as “Mama Tink,” a name I cherish because it reflects my role as a listener, connector, and advocate for elder wisdom. I do not have biological grandchildren, yet I have the privilege of serving thousands of women who generously share their stories, insights, and life lessons. My work is to listen deeply, document their experiences, and help ensure that their wisdom is preserved and shared with future generations.
Again and again, I meet women who tell me, “No one has ever asked for my story before.”
What a loss that is—not only for them, but for all of us.
Elders as Guides and Teachers
Across cultures, elders have traditionally been respected as guides and teachers. Indigenous communities throughout the world continue to honor the role of grandmothers and elders as keepers of wisdom and stewards of future generations. There is much we can learn from that example.
At a time when our society faces increasing division, uncertainty, and rapid change, we need the perspective of those who have weathered life’s storms and learned what truly matters.
Who Are the Elders in Your Life?
Have you asked them about the challenges they have overcome?
Have you listened to their stories?
Have you asked what wisdom they would most like to pass on?
The next time you have the opportunity, sit with an elder. Listen without rushing. Ask questions. Be curious.
You may discover that some of the guidance you have been seeking has been waiting patiently beside you all along.
