There’s nothing quite as heartwarming as getting to experience a child’s joy. Well, this is what happens every time an Indiana mom takes her autistic son to his favorite place in the world. And what just happens to be that place? The toilet store.
If you’re already wondering why a young child likes toilets so much, then you want to meet Joey. According to his mom Kathryn (@kathryndorathea), her autistic son was nonverbal a year ago. Now, in a recent TikTok video she posted of him, he shrieks with joy, “Toilet store!” as they pull up to one of his favorite places. Toilets are Joey’s favorite interest, and, well, any plumber would think that’s pretty cool.
When Kathryn takes Joey into their local Indiana home improvement retailer, he is simply astounded by the toilet section. He reacts with the most excited, “That’s a lot of toilets everywhere!” like a child being taken to Disney World. He continues, “That’s so cool” and points out the names of every toilet he knows: from American Standard to Tuscany. Kathryn helps him name some other fan favorite toilets, and he turns and says, “That’s right, Mommy.” He sounds incredibly excited and even astounded by all the different toilets he’s seeing. And he’s so fascinated when he learns that toilets come in black!
Kohler, the maker of all things bathroom and kitchen, responded to the adorable video and gave Joey an amazing offer. They invited him to their main manufacturing plant in Wisconsin so he could see all the toilets he could ever wish for. They told him he would get to see all kinds of toilets, including old toilets. In an update video, Joey exclaims, “YES!!” as his mom tells him the big news.
Other commenters shared in Joey’s joy. They were moved by this sweet boy and his love for one of the most common bathroom appliances. One commenter shared their story, “My son built a database of the different brands of toilets in public restrooms and other people’s bathrooms. Every time we were walking into a building he would say, ‘We are now entering Publix Market which, of course, features an American Standard toilet for your restroom needs.’ I’m so glad you shared this, it makes me so happy seeing kids being fulfilled by parents supporting their special interests.”
Other commenters shared that Joey is definitely looking into a career as a “future plumber!” Parents also shared their autistic children’s special interests in order to connect with other parents. One shared, “My son is obsessed with model homes.” Another stated, “My daughter can identify the make and model of every American tornado siren.”
This video continues to bring in commenters who can relate to Joey’s interests in their own special ways. It helps Indiana parents connect who understand how vital it is to feed their child’s interests, no matter how unique!
