I live in the Midwest too! Feel free to message me if you wanna chat or be friends! I wonder if the same could be true for me. I rarely get out of the house and the only person I speak to on a daily basis is my mother. She’s never been patient with my stutter. I still stutter just as much when I talk to other family members though. The only thing I noticed that affects my fluency is I guess if I can say things freely I’m more likely to be able to get a few words (or even a sentence) out without any blocks. Like if I’m having a very casual and laidback conversation where I could say literally anything in response, but the second I’m asked a question or need to say anything specific, no matter how small, it’s a block on every damn word. But then again, even when talking to myself out loud or to my cat I still block. It’s very weird and I can’t figure it out.