With a family that includes a total of 11 children, 44 grandchildren and 36 great grandchildren, Theresa Jackson is no doubt a busy mother and grandmother.
With a family that includes a total of 11 children, 44 grandchildren and 36 great grandchildren, Theresa Jackson is no doubt a busy mother and grandmother. But of all the lessons she has taught her children over the years, one lesson seems to stand out more than the others, according to two of her daughters.
"My parents pray lots," says Elizabeth.
"That's what they do, prayer," adds Margaret.
Spirituality and living a healthy life are crucial lessons Theresa hopes she has passed down to her large family. Her home, located on the outskirts of Goodfish Lake, is humble and tidy. But there is always family around to keep Theresa and her husband Morris company. The couple has been married for 53 years.
Together, they had 11 children - Patsy, Margaret, Kathleen, Elizabeth, Arnold, Percy, Wilma, Marcella, Harold, Nancy, and Fallon. When Arnold passed away, Margaret says she used what she had been taught by her parents to help her deal with the situation - she prayed.
When asked about her large family, Theresa is quiet, and jokingly says she "raised too many (kids)." Along with her own children, Theresa also raised a niece and two of her granddaughters.
"I like kids. I always wanted a big family," says Theresa. She agrees that a large family is what brings happiness, fulfillment and love into a home.
"My mom is the rock of the family," says Margaret, adding, when the young children get hurt or sick, they look for their kookum.
"They run to her."
Theresa's advice to other moms is simple, "Love them, and raise them, and keep them." And when life gets busy, she uses prayer to help her get through tough situations.
Making family and love a priority in life is something that rubbed off on her daughters.
Margaret explains that while growing up, the family was quite poor, but she never felt poor.
"To me, we had food, she always provided for us . . . I never realized we were that poor . . . to me we were rich, and we are still rich."
Although there may be many family members and they are somewhat scattered around the area, for the past 53 years the Jackson family has found time to gather annually at the Lac Ste. Anne Pilgrimage, in central Alberta.
Family members also like to gather at the Jackson home on Sundays.
"Sundays are the best times to visit," says Elizabeth, adding, most Sunday mornings include a small gathering.
And although she certainly had her hands full raising children, Theresa also spent nearly 30 years working at the Sewing and Garment Co., in Goodfish Lake. She retired last year and her family is now trying to teach her how to relax and allow others to take care of her.
"She's got to learn to relax. Learn to have someone take care of her," says Margaret.
Along with teaching her children about the importance of spirituality, Elizabeth says she is also careful to make sure her house is clean before her mom stops by, "because one in a while she does check," says Elizabeth with a laugh.
Margaret says her mother has also taught her patience, the importance of listening with an open heart, and forgiveness. Both daughters say their parents never argued in front of their children. Although they had their differences, there was never any shouting matches between the two of them, says Margaret.
As she sits and listens to her daughters speak so highly of her, Theresa is rather quiet. When asked how she feels about the kind words, she says, "I feel so proud of them. Proud of every one of them."
