Mother's Day: Jackson mom of 4 has 'scheduled routine' down to a science

Arnisha Jones grew up the third of four daughters. Now, the 31-year-old from Jackson has four children of her own.

If four kids under the age of 12 including newborn twins isn't enough of a challenge, Jones juggles a career as a full-time fifth-grade teacher at Clausell Elementary School. And, oh by the way, she has been pursuing a graduate degree at Jackson State.

All of that would make any mom worthy of a seat of honor on Mother's Day. This Mother's Day has even more cause for reflection.

In January, Jones gave birth to healthy twin boys, Amari and Khamari, who joined older sisters, Ne’Vael and Nyla, but a month later, she received the devastating diagnosis that would change her life forever.

On Valentines Day, Jones received a call from her doctor. She had been diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer.

"It was about six weeks after I had given birth, I was in the shower one day and felt a lump in one of my breasts, but I thought it was just dried-up milk because my babies were still so fresh," Jones said. "I talked to my OBGYN and once I spoke with her about it, she believed it was dried-up milk as well but still wanted to get a second opinion."

Jones is currently undergoing chemotherapy and said the treatment has taken a toll on her mentally and physically.

"Hearing my doctor say the word 'cancer,' it really affected me and sometimes I'm not OK, but because I have such a strong support system from my family, I barely have time to even think about my cancer unless I'm just simply not feeling well," Jones said.

It wasn't Jones' first health scare.

Six years ago, at the age of 25, Jones was diagnosed with inflammation of both eyes, causing her to temporarily lose her eyesight.

"Still today, I have to get injections inside my eyes just so my eyesight can stay afloat," Jones said. "My 11-year-old daughter would read to me sometimes and help me see what's on the TV guide if I'm having trouble with my eyes."

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She said her family and her boyfriend have been a tremendous help and have given her their unwavering support throughout her journey with cancer while helping care for her children or simply preparing family meals.

Jones also has support from her Clausell Elementary family and the school's Principal Carla Thomas, with whom she discussed her treatment plan.

"I found out Ms. Jones had cancer probably 20-30 minutes after she had found out herself," said Carla Thomas, principal at Clausell Elementary School. "Her mom called me to notify me about her diagnosis, and I had to make sure I was calm because at Clausell, we are like a family. She's the same age as my own daughter, so I immediately went into mama mode wanting to protect her and make sure she's OK."

It was a school day that Thomas says she received the call from Jones' mom. She walked down to Jones classroom to check on her and she was still teaching her students as if nothing had never happened.

"The main thing I wanted Ms. Jones to know was that she did not have to worry about her job or her students," Thomas said. "She loves her students, and she has very close relationships with all of them, but I wanted to make sure she understood that her job was nothing to worry about and whatever she needed I was going to make sure it was provided."

The news was jarring to Jones' entire support group.

"I was devastated and very emotional when my daughter first told me she had breast cancer," said Jones' mother, Patrina Williams-Jones. "I wanted my baby to get better overnight, but I began to push people that I cared for away because I started to question God asking, 'Why did he choose this for my daughter?'

"I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure years ago, and my daughter would come to every appointment, lay in bed with me, just anything I needed but now the roles have reversed, now, I'm going to doctor's appointments with her, picking up my grandbabies from daycare. I call, we talk and laugh; whatever she needs, I'm there."

The biggest reality in battling cancer was when she started to notice hair loss due to the side effects of chemotherapy. Jones said because she attends chemotherapy once a week, doctors told her the process of losing her hair would go very fast.

"I'm such a hair girl — I love my hair a lot, but one Friday morning as I was getting prepared to go to work, I began combing my hair and it started to come out in chunks," Jones said. "Of course, I began to cry, and my support system rushed to be by my side. My mom wanted me to go ahead and cut my hair off, but I didn't immediately do it in the beginning."

Jones decided to make cutting her hair a family moment that would also be an unforgettable experience by allowing her loved ones to participate by cutting off a piece of her hair.

"Everyone was included," she said. "We all met at my mom's house one day and my daughters cut a piece, my mom and grandmother cut a piece, my dad, boyfriend and best friend who's a stylist.

"She couldn't go through with the final shave-off, so my boyfriend finished the last little bit for me."

Jones' family later surprised her by turning the hair-cutting moment into a party with cake, food and more.

"My daughter always said she wanted to be a teacher, and if she ever had kids, she would be an excellent mom, so guess what? She's doing and being exactly what she said she would," Williams-Jones said.

A typical day for Jones consists of two words — scheduled routine.

Jones said the day has to be orderly, from waking up every day at 5 a.m. for work, getting 11-year-old daughter, Ne’Vael, and 7-year-old daughter, Nyla, ready for school and twin infants Amari and Khamari ready for day care, making bottles, all while loading up her vehicle to get out of the house by 6:45 a.m.

"My children and my family are my inspiration, I am still going to work every day not missing a beat," Jones said. "That's the thing, I literally keep going and am so strong because of them. I want other moms who are facing a challenge or just overwhelmed with motherhood to just keep going, no matter what.

"(They should) make a Mother's Day bucket list of their own every year doing something they've always wanted to do or simply cater to themselves."

Battling cancer has not stopped her from achieving every goal she wants to accomplish in life. She graduated from Wingfield High School and earned a bachelor's degree in child development from Tougaloo College. Jones recently completed work on a master's degree in Elementary K-6 education with an endorsement in special education from Jackson State University. She graduated May 3.

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Have a story idea? Reporter Kiara Fleming can be reached via email KDFleming@jackson.gannett.com and on X @Ki_dajournalist

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mother's Day 2024: Jackson MS mother, teacher savors family on holiday