Growing up in Iowa is a unique experience. In many ways, it’s a lot like any other Midwestern state – but some experiences are pure Iowa. Your mileage may vary, of course, but these are some of the thoughts we’re pretty sure everyone had at least once while growing up in Iowa.

1. When you weren't home by the time the street lights flickered on in the summer:
flickr/chanzi
"Mom's going to kill me!"
2. The first time you visited one of the big lakes (or any other large body of water):
flickr/Libby H
"Iowa has an ocean?"
3. On a snowy night:
flickr/Louis
"I'd give my left leg for a snow day tomorrow."
4. On a snow day:
flickr/Scott
"I'm going to sled down this hill over and over all day."
5. Later that same snow day after your plastic saucer sled broke:
flickr/Tony Hall
"Who needs sledding? I'm going to build the biggest snowman this town has ever seen."
6. The first time you tried a Maid-Rite:
flickr/rayb777
"What's wrong with this hamburger?"

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7. The first time you tried a pork tenderloin sandwich:
flickr/Joe Utsler
"How can anyone ever finish one of these? It's the size of my head."
8. In the middle of summer:
flickr/Jenny Addison
"Is it winter yet?"
9. In the dead of winter:
flickr/Sai Kwong
"I really miss summer."
10. When your birthday was coming up:
flickr/Mike Bash
"I hope I can have my party at Happy Joe's!"
11. When you thought about growing up:
flickr/Katsuhito Nojiri
"I'm definitely leaving Iowa someday."
12. Whenever you came home from an out-of-state vacation:
By Jason Riedy (Flickr: Into Iowa) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
"Has Iowa always been this beautiful?"

Do you remember having these thoughts when you were growing up? What other childhood thoughts have stuck with you through the years? Add them to the list by leaving a comment!

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