Who Rhea Was
Rhea Whitten, my mother, worked as a kindergarten teacher.
She loved the students as well as me and my sister dearly. She was also a wonderful artist and I remember watching her draw often as a child. She was also very curious and knowledgeable, and she taught me a lot.
My mom had a strong sense of justice and made sure to teach me and my sister what's right. She was kind, but would make sure to make it clear when I did something wrong, although she was never too harsh.
She loved art, stories, and games, and she read to us at night when we were young. The books I remember her reading to us the best were Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. I used to watch her play Team Fortress 2, Minecraft, and Don't Starve Together with her friends.
Although she unfortunately passed in 2021, much of what she taught me, believed in, and loved lives on, and I will never forget her.
How My Mom Inspired Me
My mom has been a big inspiration in my life since I was very young. She taught me what was right and that I should stand up for myself. She told me I should advocate for myself even if I got in trouble, and I shouldn't let others hurt me because of fear.
She always listened to me and made sure I felt heard. She took an interest in the things my sister and I liked so we had a lot of fun together. We walked and talked to school together, and since she taught at my school, we always stayed together until the bell rang.
Coming from a family of artists, she made wonderful art and is one of the main reasons I draw today. She always encouraged me and my sister to draw and some of our old pictures are still hung on the fridge. She didn't even get mad when we drew on the walls, because she was happy we were creative.
Although she wasn't perfect, she was very kind, caring, and righteous. I'm glad I can call her my mom.