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"Don't do something twice"
Grandma was the master of time/energy management and kept an impeccable house. I
don't think I EVER saw dirt in her house unless it was attached to me or my sister when
we came in from the yard. She believed in doing things once and the right way. Don't put
the laundry on the chair just to have to put it away later. Go ahead and put it away as soon
as it comes out of the dryer. Don't dry the dishes and put them on the counter. Put them in
the cabinet as soon as you dry them. Put your stuff away as soon as you come in the door.
Don't lay it on the table to just have to clean up later. It saved her time and energy and was
good practice. I'm still pretty bad about this one.
"Don't ask someone else to do something you wouldn't do."
This one bit me in the butt when I was around ten. By this point, she had a lady who came
in once a week to "clean". She really only dusted, ran the vacuum and mopped. There was
nothing else to clean, because everything was cleaned constantly and cleaned again
before the cleaning lady came so she wouldn't see a mess. On such a day, I'd been told to
clean the toilet. Um ... there was no toilet brush. I tried to politely get out of it by asking,
"wouldn't the cleaning lady be doing that?" When I was told, no, I would be doing that, I
pointed out the lack of toilet brush and made some smart ass comment about not
cleaning toilets with a rag and my bare hands. Well! Not only did I clean that toilet with a
ton of cleaner, a rag and my bare hand, I was told in no uncertain terms that no one was
better than anyone and you DO NOT EVER ask someone else to do something you
wouldn't do yourself and expect a yes. Side note - the toilet was already spotless so I don't
know what I was flipping out about AND for all I know, there was a perfectly good toilet
brush somewhere but after my comment, there was no way in hell she was telling me
about it. I've also learned in the last twenty-four hours that there was zero money available
when she was in college. So she got a job cleaning the bathrooms of the sorority houses.
She was well-acquainted with cleaning toilets. No wonder she got so mad at me.
"Always be a lady."
I really don't think I ever saw Grandma wear pants. Nope, pretty sure she didn't own any.
Oh wait, I think she wore shorts when she played golf from time to time, but never pants. I'll
have to ask Allana or my dad. Anyways, Grandma always had on a nice dress, makeup
and her hair was done. And jewelry, don't forget the jewelry. Not always fancy, but always
feminine. As you can see from her work history, she wasn't exactly a typical housewife. But
even with her "women's lib" - ish views, she fully believe you should always be a lady. She
cooked, she cleaned, she gardened and she didn't pump her own gas. Look like a lady
and act like a lady .... always.
On the other hand - Don't be tied to the house with "dishes, diapers
and douches."
Yep, the classy Mrs. Pitts had quite a few interesting phrases and this was one I,
personally, never get the honor of hearing. This is technically hearsay. Doesn't mean she
didn't say it or believe it. She worked because she wanted to. She wanted to have the
independence of her choosing and believed every woman should. She had a job, her own
hobbies and her own checkbook. She always told us, "Get your education, because no
matter what else some one takes from you, they can NEVER take away your education." If
she and my grandfather argued, she was known to say, "I am half of this situation!" She
never paid the household bills (that was Grampa's job), but she used her money for stuff
for the kids and grandkids, entertainment, travel, etc. She made a series of decisions that
led her to always knowing that whatever happened, she had her education, her job and
her checkbook. Grampa was a wonderful man, father and provider (and he hung the
moon, just FYI.) This wasn't because of anything he did and her decision to get an
education and a job came before they were married. I think it was because she'd lived
through the depression and because her own father had died when she was young so
she saw what all her mother had gone through to try to take care of their family.
"Quit Your Bitchin'"
Okay, so this one came more from my grandfather and the service but she said it too. It's
the short version of "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change
your attitude. Don't complain." (Maya Angelou) And an alternative to "fix it or get over it."
When someone would complain about their job, she'd remind them they are lucky to have
a job and/or look for a new one. When someone didn't like the food, she'd remind them
this was not a restaurant.. Eat or go hungry. When someone would complain about their
health, she'd tell them to go to the doctor and enjoy what they do have. If someone
complained about where they lived, move or get over it. You could say she liked to look at
the bright side ... in her way. I think about this a lot when people start complaining. Not just
fussin'. Fussin' is when you are just venting for a bit. Bitching is when you are genuinely
and/or continually complaining. I find myself thinking "quit your bitchin'" more and more in
my head when I talk to people these days.
"You don't change churches or baseball teams."
This one always made me laugh but she was dead serious. She went to Christ Lutheran
Church for a thousand years and ALWAYS watched her Yankees (unless she was at
church.) The bottom line is always be loyal to the important things. Stick with them through
thick and thin.
"No TV while the sun is out."
This one so doesn't happen at my house, but it's a good one. I could watch cartoons early
in the morning before and occassionally after breakfast. Then the TV did not come back on
until after supper. Supper was at 6. We ate, washed the dishes then went to the TV room
for Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. In the summer, this was followed by watching the
Yankees. Oh and we ate ice cream. This was the schedule every single night. Then at nine
or ten, the kids would be sent to bed. The grandparents would set out the dishes and
cereal for breakfast in the morning and that was that. Of course we slept well. We'd been
creating games, swimming and having pretend adventures all day ... outside! The other
important part to take away from this was we always ate dinner together in the kitchen and
there was a routine like clockwork in the evenings.
"Don't get your ass up over your shoulders."
I've never had a clue where this came from but assumed it was along the lines of my other
grandmother's line "don't get your knickers in a knot." My dad recently told me, "Getting
your ass over your shoulders is a football analogy for getting down in a football stance and
being unmovable - like in an argument when your mind is completely made up and you
don't want to be disturbed by facts." He also said she would say this when her kids were
teenagers and going out on a date. But that was a totally new context for it.
So these are the lessons from the amazing Katherine Pitts. She really was amazing.
There are more lessons and stories that I will put together for another day. I hope these
speak to you.
Kati
Kati@LexingtonMommy.com
Grandma was the master of time/energy management and kept an impeccable house. I
don't think I EVER saw dirt in her house unless it was attached to me or my sister when
we came in from the yard. She believed in doing things once and the right way. Don't put
the laundry on the chair just to have to put it away later. Go ahead and put it away as soon
as it comes out of the dryer. Don't dry the dishes and put them on the counter. Put them in
the cabinet as soon as you dry them. Put your stuff away as soon as you come in the door.
Don't lay it on the table to just have to clean up later. It saved her time and energy and was
good practice. I'm still pretty bad about this one.
"Don't ask someone else to do something you wouldn't do."
This one bit me in the butt when I was around ten. By this point, she had a lady who came
in once a week to "clean". She really only dusted, ran the vacuum and mopped. There was
nothing else to clean, because everything was cleaned constantly and cleaned again
before the cleaning lady came so she wouldn't see a mess. On such a day, I'd been told to
clean the toilet. Um ... there was no toilet brush. I tried to politely get out of it by asking,
"wouldn't the cleaning lady be doing that?" When I was told, no, I would be doing that, I
pointed out the lack of toilet brush and made some smart ass comment about not
cleaning toilets with a rag and my bare hands. Well! Not only did I clean that toilet with a
ton of cleaner, a rag and my bare hand, I was told in no uncertain terms that no one was
better than anyone and you DO NOT EVER ask someone else to do something you
wouldn't do yourself and expect a yes. Side note - the toilet was already spotless so I don't
know what I was flipping out about AND for all I know, there was a perfectly good toilet
brush somewhere but after my comment, there was no way in hell she was telling me
about it. I've also learned in the last twenty-four hours that there was zero money available
when she was in college. So she got a job cleaning the bathrooms of the sorority houses.
She was well-acquainted with cleaning toilets. No wonder she got so mad at me.
"Always be a lady."
I really don't think I ever saw Grandma wear pants. Nope, pretty sure she didn't own any.
Oh wait, I think she wore shorts when she played golf from time to time, but never pants. I'll
have to ask Allana or my dad. Anyways, Grandma always had on a nice dress, makeup
and her hair was done. And jewelry, don't forget the jewelry. Not always fancy, but always
feminine. As you can see from her work history, she wasn't exactly a typical housewife. But
even with her "women's lib" - ish views, she fully believe you should always be a lady. She
cooked, she cleaned, she gardened and she didn't pump her own gas. Look like a lady
and act like a lady .... always.
On the other hand - Don't be tied to the house with "dishes, diapers
and douches."
Yep, the classy Mrs. Pitts had quite a few interesting phrases and this was one I,
personally, never get the honor of hearing. This is technically hearsay. Doesn't mean she
didn't say it or believe it. She worked because she wanted to. She wanted to have the
independence of her choosing and believed every woman should. She had a job, her own
hobbies and her own checkbook. She always told us, "Get your education, because no
matter what else some one takes from you, they can NEVER take away your education." If
she and my grandfather argued, she was known to say, "I am half of this situation!" She
never paid the household bills (that was Grampa's job), but she used her money for stuff
for the kids and grandkids, entertainment, travel, etc. She made a series of decisions that
led her to always knowing that whatever happened, she had her education, her job and
her checkbook. Grampa was a wonderful man, father and provider (and he hung the
moon, just FYI.) This wasn't because of anything he did and her decision to get an
education and a job came before they were married. I think it was because she'd lived
through the depression and because her own father had died when she was young so
she saw what all her mother had gone through to try to take care of their family.
"Quit Your Bitchin'"
Okay, so this one came more from my grandfather and the service but she said it too. It's
the short version of "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change
your attitude. Don't complain." (Maya Angelou) And an alternative to "fix it or get over it."
When someone would complain about their job, she'd remind them they are lucky to have
a job and/or look for a new one. When someone didn't like the food, she'd remind them
this was not a restaurant.. Eat or go hungry. When someone would complain about their
health, she'd tell them to go to the doctor and enjoy what they do have. If someone
complained about where they lived, move or get over it. You could say she liked to look at
the bright side ... in her way. I think about this a lot when people start complaining. Not just
fussin'. Fussin' is when you are just venting for a bit. Bitching is when you are genuinely
and/or continually complaining. I find myself thinking "quit your bitchin'" more and more in
my head when I talk to people these days.
"You don't change churches or baseball teams."
This one always made me laugh but she was dead serious. She went to Christ Lutheran
Church for a thousand years and ALWAYS watched her Yankees (unless she was at
church.) The bottom line is always be loyal to the important things. Stick with them through
thick and thin.
"No TV while the sun is out."
This one so doesn't happen at my house, but it's a good one. I could watch cartoons early
in the morning before and occassionally after breakfast. Then the TV did not come back on
until after supper. Supper was at 6. We ate, washed the dishes then went to the TV room
for Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. In the summer, this was followed by watching the
Yankees. Oh and we ate ice cream. This was the schedule every single night. Then at nine
or ten, the kids would be sent to bed. The grandparents would set out the dishes and
cereal for breakfast in the morning and that was that. Of course we slept well. We'd been
creating games, swimming and having pretend adventures all day ... outside! The other
important part to take away from this was we always ate dinner together in the kitchen and
there was a routine like clockwork in the evenings.
"Don't get your ass up over your shoulders."
I've never had a clue where this came from but assumed it was along the lines of my other
grandmother's line "don't get your knickers in a knot." My dad recently told me, "Getting
your ass over your shoulders is a football analogy for getting down in a football stance and
being unmovable - like in an argument when your mind is completely made up and you
don't want to be disturbed by facts." He also said she would say this when her kids were
teenagers and going out on a date. But that was a totally new context for it.
So these are the lessons from the amazing Katherine Pitts. She really was amazing.
There are more lessons and stories that I will put together for another day. I hope these
speak to you.
Kati
Kati@LexingtonMommy.com
Lessons from my Grandma
There is just so much to my grandmother's story and the lessons I have learned from her
and about her.
My grandma was awesome! I know yours probably was too, but really, she was an
amazing woman, teacher, wife, mother and grandmother. The short list of why Katherine
Pitts was so awesome is:
There is just so much to my grandmother's story and the lessons I have learned from her
and about her.
My grandma was awesome! I know yours probably was too, but really, she was an
amazing woman, teacher, wife, mother and grandmother. The short list of why Katherine
Pitts was so awesome is:
In 1941, she took a break when my aunt
was born. When she returned to
teaching in 1944, she taught at
Gardnertown Elementary for the next 51
years. Yes ma'am, you heard me.
Fifty-one years. Okay, well not quite 51
years. She took a break for a few years
when she had my dad. She also
technically "retired" as some point in
there from "full time" teaching, but
continued to substitute teach until 1995.
was born. When she returned to
teaching in 1944, she taught at
Gardnertown Elementary for the next 51
years. Yes ma'am, you heard me.
Fifty-one years. Okay, well not quite 51
years. She took a break for a few years
when she had my dad. She also
technically "retired" as some point in
there from "full time" teaching, but
continued to substitute teach until 1995.
She graduated high school at 16, college at 19 and because she
was under 21, her mother had to sign her contract with the State
Board of Education for her when she became a teacher. She taught
in a one room school house until 1941 - eight grades, one room
complete with wood burning stove. When it snowed, the children
would create ruts in the snow as they walked to school so Grandma
would know where to drive her car. She introduced the kids to paper
cups so they wouldn't all have to drink out of the communal water
dipper.
was under 21, her mother had to sign her contract with the State
Board of Education for her when she became a teacher. She taught
in a one room school house until 1941 - eight grades, one room
complete with wood burning stove. When it snowed, the children
would create ruts in the snow as they walked to school so Grandma
would know where to drive her car. She introduced the kids to paper
cups so they wouldn't all have to drink out of the communal water
dipper.
| Katherine Pitts - 1934 |
So I guess if you do the math from 1932 to 1995 with roughly seven taken out for raising
babies, she taught for 56 years total. That's crazy. When you put it in context of the time
period, it's even crazier. She taught during the Great Depression. She taught while my
grandfather was in the South Pacific fighting WWII. She taught during the fifties and sixties
when women, especially married women with children, did not work. She taught during
seven decades. At her "retirement" they said she could teach a rock to read. She'd taught
kids forever. My rough math figures she taught well over a thousand children. I hope this
gives you a clear context of where her lessons came from.
babies, she taught for 56 years total. That's crazy. When you put it in context of the time
period, it's even crazier. She taught during the Great Depression. She taught while my
grandfather was in the South Pacific fighting WWII. She taught during the fifties and sixties
when women, especially married women with children, did not work. She taught during
seven decades. At her "retirement" they said she could teach a rock to read. She'd taught
kids forever. My rough math figures she taught well over a thousand children. I hope this
gives you a clear context of where her lessons came from.
Gardnertown Elementary 1972-1973 School Year
| Katherine Pitts - 1932 First year teaching |
Written on the back of this
photo:
"6/12/34
Dearest,
I've enjoyed every
minute with you to the
utmost. We've spent about
five years together - may it
end with a life time
together. I hope you've
enjoyed it as much as I.
Without you - at times I
know things would have
been much harder.
I've loved you ever
since the 2nd time out.
Love, Me. Sincerely, "Kat"
photo:
"6/12/34
Dearest,
I've enjoyed every
minute with you to the
utmost. We've spent about
five years together - may it
end with a life time
together. I hope you've
enjoyed it as much as I.
Without you - at times I
know things would have
been much harder.
I've loved you ever
since the 2nd time out.
Love, Me. Sincerely, "Kat"
My grandfather, F. Allen Pitts - 1939
| My grandparents, Allen & Katherine Pitts 1987 |
Katherine Pitts - 1995
(the last year she taught
elementary school)
(the last year she taught
elementary school)