New Evidence That Grandmothers Were Crucial for Human Evolution | Surprising Science
Surprising Science supports the "grandmother hypothesis": Here's a study (click on the above hot link) that shows grandmothering was the initial step that made us who we are, gave us the leg up we needed as a species to survive longer, more prone to cooperate with each other. Grandmothers helped our overall offspring survival rate and set the stage for us to be dependent on each other socially and to develop other of our uniquely human traits. It's a fascinating article that made me grateful. Have you thanked a grandmother lately? If you are one, give yourself a treat and read this article.
I loved this article, Mary. I know that my value to society as an older woman is dependent on my ability to be unencumbered by childbearing any longer, but child rearing still continues. Thank you for the enlightening article. :-)
ReplyDeleteI found it fascinating to read of the evolutionary implications of what we do as elders.
DeleteI truly DO know how much influence a grandmother has on grandchildren. I spend more hours a day with my granddaughter right now than her mother (who works) does. I truly will miss her when she goes off to kindergarten next year, but I know / see she is ready and well prepared for kindergarten.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's not just theoretical for you, you're living it. Good for you and good for her.
DeleteWonderful!
ReplyDeleteSeeing things from a different point of view can influence how we feel about ourselves.
DeleteWhat's best for my grandchildren is always on my mind, even from afar. And, just next door, two neighbor children Kaela and Jesse wander into my house sometimes just to talk. Their grandparents are a thousand miles away, and we're a good substitute. I love it all.
ReplyDeleteMe too since mine are afar as well. I've adopted some grands along the way and love my time with them. It enriches my life and I hope theirs.
Deletethat's a lovely pic of you and your grandchildren... i know how important my mom is for my kids...it's such a special connection and i'm really thankful that we live really close
ReplyDeleteThanks, Claudia. what a gift to share your Mom with your children and share your children with your Mom. Lucky you to live close.
DeleteYes, I can see the logic of this, and of course I'm a very engaged grandma. Thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteYes, you are. How fortunate for your grands. Interesting article- glad you liked it.
DeleteThere is a famous quote somewhere that someone said your success depends on your grandmother. Though I barely met one of mine (and never the other), I turn to her often in my mind.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes wish I'd had a grandma as connected with me as I am with James. But we get what we get, and we are who we are.
You had what you had and now James has you as grandma with both of your lives changed as a result. It all becomes part of what the article described in moving all of humanity forward. It's particular and personal and yet, much bigger as well.
Deletep.s. He's a lucky boy.