Where are all of my other small-town kids at?! That’s right, folks; like many of you, I grew up in rural Colorado and learned some important life lessons just by proxy, including these 15 things that you can never, ever get away with growing up in a small town:
1. Skipping school...
Look; there were only a handful of places you could go in town anyway and all of the people working there knew your age, whether or not school was in session, AND your class schedule... It wasn't even worth trying to skip!
2. ...practice...
If you missed practice for any reason (including a life threatening illness), you would be forced to sit out most of the big game, so this -- like skipping school -- just wasn't worth it.
3. ...church...
"Where are the *enter your last name here*s?"
"Are they out of town?"
"Are they skipping church just because?"
You know how it goes (because you did it too)!
4. ...or work.
Much like school, EVERYONE knew where you worked and when you were supposed to be there. I guess you could have just played hookie and stayed home, but what's the fun in that?!
5. Keeping your blossoming relationship a secret.
New boyfriend or girlfriend? Trying to keep it under the radar? Good luck with that, because both your doctor AND 2nd grade teacher already know about it...
6. Staying out past curfew.
Out past 10? Yeah, get your butt home... the cops know your car and know that you're only 16!
7. Driving your friends around right after getting your license.
Now, this is a newer one (newer = within the last 15 years), but I remember being TICKED that I wasn't able to drive my friends around after getting my license because of the newly implemented "no one under 21 in your car until you've had your license for 6 months" law. In hindsight, however, I get it (and get why the cops pulled me over when they saw me driving around with 4 friends right after getting my license)...
8. Not waving at on-coming traffic...
You had mastered the trademark two-finger wave before you could even talk.
9. ...or attending the big game on Friday night.
Not that you would want to miss it... there is nothing quite as iconic as those Friday night lights!
10. Talking back to your teacher...
This was just a terrible idea (especially if your mom was best friends with one of your teachers, like me) because that teacher would never forget it and would tell the rest of the teachers and administration about it almost immediately. (Side note: In general, it isn't cool to talk back to teachers, so just don't do it!)
11. ...law enforcement...
...not that you would do it anyway, since the police chief was either your uncle or best friend's dad (or both).
12. ...or adults in general.
Let's just say that you learned the importance of respecting your elders at a young age.
13. Finally, you could never get away without being cheered on...
14. ...supported...
15. ...or loved on by nearly everyone in community.
As much as you hated it while you were growing up, you know that everyone in your small town had your back and wanted nothing more than to see you succeed!
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