Growing up in Texas has its fair share of perks—wide-open spaces, experiencing all four seasons, and meeting some of the friendliest people in the country. But if you’ve ever reflected on your childhood, you might realize that some of the things your parents told you just weren’t true.
While they might have meant well, here are some common lies parents told us as kids and the real facts behind them.
1. Swimming After A Meal Will Make You Drown
Lie: You were told to wait 30 minutes after eating before swimming, or you’d risk cramping up or even drowning.
Reality: While it’s a good idea to let your food digest, there’s no evidence that swimming after a meal is dangerous. The myth likely stems from the idea that digestion diverts blood from muscles, but there’s no real risk.
2. Swallowing Watermelon Seeds Will Make One Grow Inside You
Lie: Swallowing watermelon seeds could cause them to grow inside your stomach.
Reality: Watermelons need sunlight and water to grow, not the inside of your digestive system. Seeds pass through without causing any plant growth.
3. Picking Texas Bluebonnets Is Illegal
Lie: Picking Texas’ official flower, the bluebonnet, will land you in jail.
Reality: There is no law against picking bluebonnets, even though they are protected by the state as the official flower of Texas. Just be mindful of the impact on wildlife and other people.
4. Touching A Toad Will Give You Warts
Lie: If you touched a toad or frog, you’d get warts on your hands.
Reality: Warts are caused by viruses, not by touching amphibians. Parents likely told this to keep us from handling these slimy creatures.
5. Driving At Night With the Dome Light On Is Illegal
Lie: It’s illegal and dangerous to drive with the interior light on at night.
Reality: There’s no law against having the dome light on while driving, and the light is usually too dim to cause any serious distraction.
6. Step On A Crack, Break Your Mama’s Back
Lie: Stepping on a crack in the sidewalk would break your mom’s back.
Reality: If this were true, many mothers would be walking around with broken backs. The rhyme is likely more for fun than anything else.
7. Armadillos Shoot Bullets From Their Tail
Lie: Armadillos can shoot bullets from their tails.
Reality: As cool as this would be, it’s obviously not true. Armadillos are harmless, and their tails do not shoot bullets.
8. Texas Wind Can Blow Your Face Off
Lie: The wind in Texas is so strong that it can blow your face off.
Reality: Texas can certainly experience strong winds, but they’re not strong enough to blow your face off. This exaggerated claim likely comes from the state’s sometimes powerful gusts.
9. The Chupacabra Lives Near The Oilfields
Lie: The Chupacabra, a mythological creature, lives near the oilfields, hunting people and livestock.
Reality: The Chupacabra is purely a myth with no proof of existence. It is likely just a spooky story passed around, especially in regions like the oilfields.
10. Dairy Queen “Texas Stop Sign” Is For Adults Only
Lie: The “Texas Stop Sign” at Dairy Queen is only for adults.
Reality: Dairy Queen doesn’t market its “Texas Stop Sign” treat specifically for adults. Parents probably used this excuse just to avoid buying the treat for us.