I was walking to my bedroom which meant that I had to pass by a bathroom when I saw something that made me stop.
There was a child in the bathroom, door standing wide open and business was being done on the toilet.
Now, I realize that this is not an abnormal thing to see and that was not what made me stop.
It was not what he was doing that caught my eye but what he was holding in his hands.
I walked into the bathroom and pointed, “What is that?!”
The child looked at me and sheepishly said, “Mommy, I need to wipe my butt.”
I removed the wad of toilet paper from the child’s hand and said, “Yes, I know that you need to wipe your butt but you don’t need a half a roll of paper wadded up in a ball to do it.”
It was worse then what I thought. I kid you not but there was almost a whole roll of toilet paper in that ball. No wonder I have to buy toilet paper so often. I mean a jumbo pack of toilet paper from Costco should last a family longer than two weeks.
Then it hit me, no one in this house knows the proper amount of toilet paper to use. They all need a lesson and fast.
That got me thinking. If I struggle with this in my house, I am sure that other people with small children struggle too. That is why I developed this tutorial, with pictures, to help our children learn.
Our children need to be taught the proper amount of toilet paper to use to save our trees and to save the laundry do’ers from oh so many skid marks.
Here is the goal.
Here is what we don’t want compared with what we do just so there is no confusion.
Any questions?!
*please note, the size of the just right toilet paper piece will vary on the size of the messy bottom.
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{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
HA I love the too small!!! Although when my girls wipe at all i’m proud!
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Jen Reply:
January 22nd, 2012 at 1:11 pm
Yes, this wiping with too much toilet paper seems to be a boy issue. The girl kid in this house, doesn’t seem to use any.
I plan to have a similar discussion with her.
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lol. I think you need to print that up and post it in the bathroom!!
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Thank you for this…I’ll be sitting my boys down (on the toilet) tomorrow and showing them this most important tutorial! LOL!
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Jen Reply:
January 22nd, 2012 at 1:14 pm
All kids every where must be taught!
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I am laying in bed using my phone and dying laughing. I so needed this chuckle this morning!!!
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My husband is one of 10 kids. He is the baby and the only boy that was in the house when he was born. His older brothers are older than my dad. Why did I tell you all that? Because that meant it was him and 7 girls. Several times a year his dad would lose his mind at the amount of toilet paper they went through. He would host a tutorial. He insisted that they use only one sheet per bathroom visit. Clearly no one listened, because ewwww. Now, had he had this brilliant toilet paper tutorial, imagine the peace in that home.
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This is too funny! Love the pictures, I need a printable of them to post in the bathroom when it comes time to potty train our daughter!
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Jen Reply:
January 22nd, 2012 at 1:14 pm
Feel free to print and hang.
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At least you haven’t had tons of overflowing toilets! That’s a Whole Lotta TP!
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Jen Reply:
January 22nd, 2012 at 1:14 pm
I have had my fair share of overflowing toilets…. not fun
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That big wad of TP would plug our toilets – I’m amazed tyou haven’t had this problem.
Now the next issue: are the children folders, or wadders?
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It’s like we live in the same house
Also? Ethan has started throwing his underwear (which he will only willingly wear to school) behind the toilet as soon as he gets home. So there’s always underwear back there. Better than a clogged toilet, right?!
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Can I add one additional rule:
NEVER EVER EVER put baby wipes in the toilet.
Kthanks.
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Jen Reply:
January 22nd, 2012 at 1:13 pm
Yeah, that will never end well.
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I am so guilty of using too much.
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Now you need to print these to hang in your bathroom. Add some cute little saying to it and it could be the hotest thing on pinterest!
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Jen Reply:
January 22nd, 2012 at 1:12 pm
Mmmm…. now that is an idea.
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I recently found out that if my girl is the one to finish the paper, she throws the empty roll down the toilet.
I don’t know how long she’s been doing it, but amazingly, the toilet has coped with it so far!
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It’s still better than diapers!!
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According to a certain celebrity I know, we only need one square of TP to get things clean. I like your recommendations much better!
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ok…so this is funny and scary. Scary as we are just about to start potty training here. Is this what I have to look forward to?
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Can you please do an instructional video.
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You! are a Nut job! But sure keep me laughing! how do you have time to post toilet paper pics like this?! You just made my day!! LOL!
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Agreed. The boy clogs the toilet with paper, and the girl never uses any. I don’t get it. That is just so gross. It doesn’t seem to matter what I tell her either. She just doesn’t use it.
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I remember my mom teaching us something similar.
And I can’t wait until mine are old enough to do it for themselves!!! Especially when I get 3 in a row: one on the toilet, one on the potty, and a full diaper – in the middle of dinner!
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Are you sure you didn’t have a hidden camera on my bathroom to get that “too small” example from my son? We’ve resorted to telling him, point blank, that he smells b/c he doesn’t wipe well enough. Thank goodness his sister does well. The youngest is still in diapers (unfortunately…) so we’re in control still there.
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