Saturday, July 22, 2023

Toilet Paper Saga

Some time ago, I taught Calder how to change the toilet roll (so he wouldn't be stranded if it runs out). Unfortunately he became very enthusiastic at this and would change toilet rolls before they run out. He would pull out the remaining paper (which could easily have lasted another 3 days) and tuck the bunch at a corner of the toilet before installing a brand new roll. Exasperated by the wastefulness, I got him to wind the bunch back onto the old toilet roll but that was too messy. Then I figured it's simpler to put the bunch into a toilet paper box for continued use. So whenever I spot a new toilet roll, I would look for the stray bunch, put this bunch in a toilet paper box and replace the new roll with this box.

Recently I noticed that even though the toilet rolls have been changed, there's no sign of old remaining toilet paper. Determined to find out why, I started listening out for multiple toilet flushing. Nope, not happening. However, the truth soon surfaced. 

One day, Calder came home and went straight to the master bedroom toilet. Suspicious because he usually uses the kitchen toilet, I followed him. Lo and behold, the toilet roll was missing. But it's not anywhere in the toilet.

"Where is the toilet paper?" I asked.

He moved to the toilet window and actually showed me how it was shoved out.

I insisted that we go downstairs to retrieve the missing toilet paper (I was determined to show him I meant business). Unfortunately, it was nowhere in sight (maybe it got trapped on top of a tree).

Returning home, my mind was racing how I could prevent him from shoving unfinished toilet rolls out the small toilet windows again.

I told the family that henceforth, toilet paper shall be from a box. 


(I decided to pen this down after a friend asked me how she could pray for me. I had blurted: Please pray that Calder will stop wasting my toilet paper. When autistic child persists in weird behavior, parent turns detective/police/chess-master. )