We all believed some wild things as kids—ideas that seemed completely logical back then but make us shake our heads now. So we asked the Truck Driver SUSA community: What’s something you believed as a kid that makes you laugh now? The stories rolled in, and they’re just too good not to share. From roadside myths to family tales, here’s a collection of childhood misunderstandings that still get a laugh from drivers who’ve seen plenty of miles and even more life.
The World Was a Lot Stranger in Our Heads
Larry Nee remembers watching cars on TV shows in the 60s go airborne and explode. So when his dad took their car to a gas station and it went up on a lift, he was out of that garage fast.
Timothy Henry once thought the 1930s and 1940s were black and white—not just the movies and photos, but real life. That one stuck with him for a while.
Larry Brink feared quicksand would be an everyday hazard in adult life. He’s still waiting for it to show up.
Mark Turcotte believed wearing socks to bed would make you go blind.
Earl Bugsy Milroy thought sitting too close to the TV would have the same result.
Brandon Mashburn thought flea markets sold fleas.
Samantha Duclos believed the TV shut off at 8 p.m. every night. Her mom told her that—bedtime was enforced by broadcast.
Funny Things We Took Too Seriously
Zach Lively said his mom didn’t allow him to use public restrooms on road trips, and his dad warned that holding it too long would turn his eyes yellow. Later, he learned about “watering trees”—a lesson in roadside relief that still makes him laugh. Now he travels by RV and enjoys the freedom to go whenever and wherever he wants.
Barry Loewen grew up thinking Easter rabbits laid eggs.
Dawn Marie Barber believed the white spots on fingernails meant you told a lie.
Annie Tucker was told by her grandma that the crust of the bread held all the nutrients. So she ate it. Every time.
Pamela Cooper was afraid something would grab her feet if she didn’t cover them up in bed.
Martha Ann Miller was told eating burnt toast would give her rosy cheeks.
Keith Faulk thought watermelon and ice cream eaten on the same day would be deadly.
David Hayes once believed 30 was old.
Things We Believed About Adults
Jason Lawrence thought his parents were infallible and would live forever. Life taught him otherwise.
Freddie Sturdivant believed his parents were rich—until he got older and saw the struggles they faced.
Nelson Acevedo thought being an adult would be easy.
Mat Khal simply believed he’d never get old.
Martin Gman assumed adults always knew what they were doing.
Julia Wojdacz believed people would do the right thing.
Laurene Booth thought what people said was always true.
What We Thought About the World
George Hernandez believed drinking beer would stunt your growth. He jokes that it just made him grow sideways.
Larry Tidwell believed professional wrestling was real.
Robert Ward thought truth and justice were solid guarantees.
Cody Thurston-Yates believed common courtesy was just… common.
John Schultz thought life would be fair.
Childhood Icons That Didn’t Hold Up
Andy Hiltz, Susan Francischetti, and Lori Sheridan all pointed to the usual suspects—Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy. Some believed, some didn’t, but they all laugh about it now.
Reflecting on It All
As drivers, most of us have outgrown these childhood beliefs—but not the humor that comes with looking back. There’s something honest and comforting about realizing we all started a little confused about the world. Whether it was trusting family legends or believing in TV magic, it’s clear that childhood had a logic all its own.
Got a memory like this?
Jump into the conversation in our Truck Drivers USA community and tell us—what did you believe as a kid that makes you laugh now? We’ll be sharing more in the future, and we’d love to hear from you.
