Top 19+ Signs You Grew Up in the Midwest Without Realizing It

You might not have thought much about where you came from, but your habits and favorite foods might say more about you than you think. If you grew up in the Midwest, then there are probably small things you do, without even realizing that reflect where you grew up. Here are 19 signs that seriously show where you’re from.

You think ranch dressing belongs on everything

Let’s not lie, ranch dressing is kind of a way of life. You grew up putting it on salads, sure, but also on pizza, fries, sandwiches, and probably even tried it on things like potato chips or tater tots. And if it’s not your go-to, someone in your house definitely swore by it.

You’ve been in a basement during a tornado warning

It’s kind of like a ritual at this point, when you hear the sirens or check your phone for weather updates, then head to the basement with whatever essentials you can grab.

You don’t freak out, you just go through the motions like it’s part of life. If you’re extra chill about it, you might even peek outside to look at the sky first.

You call it pop, not soda

No doubt about it, this one causes confusion every time you leave your home state. In the Midwest, everyone just calls it pop, and it doesn’t matter if it’s Coke, Pepsi, Sprite, or root beer. That’s just what you grew up hearing. It’s a small thing, but it’s one of those markers that stick for life.

You know every back road and shortcut in town

As much as you want to avoid traffic, it’s about knowing the lay of the land. You’ve spent years learning which roads flood in the rain and which shortcuts will get you to the store five minutes faster.

GPS is helpful, sure, but you rarely need it in your hometown. If you’ve ever told someone, ‘Just turn right at the red barn, then cut through by the church,’ you’ve definitely got Midwest navigation in your blood.

You say goodbye for 20 minutes

It starts at the kitchen table, with someone saying, ‘Welp, I suppose we should head out.’ But no one actually moves, so you talk a bit more, then slowly migrate to the doorway. Another 10 minutes pass while you chat about the weather or whatever new store just opened. Then comes the porch goodbye and maybe even a wave as they pull out of the driveway.

You’ve had Jell-O with something weird in it

There’s no easy way to explain this to outsiders. Yes, people in the Midwest put strange things in Jell-O. Sometimes it’s shredded carrots, other times it’s cottage cheese, marshmallows, canned fruit, or pretzels. If it sounds unusual, that’s because it is, however, somehow it works.

You wave at everyone when driving

Even if you don’t know the person, a little wave is just the polite thing to do. You don’t even think about it; it’s instinct. Some people even feel weird if they don’t wave. It’s one of those unspoken Midwestern rules of the road.

If you’ve ever been waved at by a tractor or waved first just in case, it’s safe to say you’ve passed the Midwest driving etiquette test.

You own more hoodies than dress clothes

Let’s just admit it, comfort always wins. You’ve most likely got one from high school, one from your favorite local bar, and at least three from various family vacations or county fairs. You don’t even think twice about wearing one to dinner or the grocery store, because in the Midwest, no one’s judging you for it.

You still measure distance in time

When someone asks how far something is, your brain automatically goes to minutes. You factor in whether you hit green lights or even if you get stuck behind a tractor. It’s just how directions work around here.

You most likely told someone, ‘It’s only about 30 minutes if you take the highway,’ without mentioning a single street name.

You’ve helped push a car out of the snow

For sure, you’ve done this at some point in life. Someone gets stuck on a side street or in their own driveway, and you don’t even hesitate, you just jump out and start pushing. You might be in dress clothes or running late, but helping someone out of a snowbank is just what people do.

You’ve eaten something called a hot dish

Whether you called it a hot dish or just a casserole, you know exactly what it is. These meals are staples of potlucks and busy weeknights. If your family has that one recipe that gets made every winter, then yeah, you’ve definitely grown up in the Midwest.

You’ve been to a drive-thru bank or pharmacy

Okay, this might seem outdated to some folks, yet it’s still normal in plenty of Midwest towns. You pull up, send your deposit or prescription through that little vacuum tube, and wait for the whoosh as it travels to the teller inside.

When you sit in line behind three minivans and a pickup truck just to cash a check without leaving your car, that’s a pretty clear sign of where you’re from.

You apologize when someone else bumps into you

It’s probably happened more times than you can count where you’re in the grocery store, someone’s cart hits yours, and before you even think, you say sorry. It doesn’t matter if it wasn’t your fault, that’s just how you were raised. You might even find yourself apologizing to inanimate objects, like bumping into a display and mumbling sorry.

You’ve said ‘this weather, huh?’ as small talk

No matter what the weather is doing, you’ll find a way to comment on it. Hot, cold, windy, humid, snowy, rainy, or just plain gloomy, it’s always fair game for conversation. It’s all about having something neutral and safe to say, as it’s a great way to break the ice with people you don’t know.

You take leftovers home no matter what

Yes, you may be full, but you’re not leaving that half-eaten chicken breast behind. That’s because in the Midwest, taking leftovers is expected. If someone offers to send you home with extras, you accept while asking if they’re absolutely sure. Your fridge probably looks like a buffet of random foil-wrapped snacks.

You’ve owned lawn chairs that go everywhere

Every household has at least a few folding lawn chairs, and they get used for everything. Baseball games, parades, block parties, fireworks, and bonfires, you bring your own seat, and maybe a few extras. Some chairs even live permanently in the trunk of your car, just in case.

You’ve said ‘let me just sneak past ya’ in a store aisle

It’s the Midwest version of excuse me, and it says a lot. You don’t want to make a big deal, you just need to grab something off the shelf or slip by someone’s cart. People say this because it’s polite and instantly recognizable to anyone from the region. You might smile awkwardly, and maybe even give a little nod.

You’ve treated a gas station like a full-on convenience store

On a final note, this might sound strange to outsiders, but in the Midwest, gas stations are more than just a place to fill up your tank. Some people swear by their local gas station’s chicken or breakfast sandwiches. It’s common to step in for gas and walk out with snacks, windshield wiper fluid, and a small-town newspaper.

This article includes content generated by AI.