Imagine this: a typical Tuesday morning in Abilene, Texas, when young Leo Johnson woke up and headed to the bathroom. What happened next is the stuff of nightmares for any parent. As we all know, when kids call for us from the bathroom, it usually signals a mess that requires our full attention—often accompanied by gloves and cleaning supplies. But for Leo’s mom, Sarah, that morning would throw her into a whole new level of chaos.
As Leo approached the toilet, he was greeted by a rather unwelcome sight—a live snake! A sizable one, no less. According to reports from local news, Leo “immediately called for his mom,” which, let’s be honest, is exactly what any child (or adult) would do in such a terrifying situation.
When Sarah finally laid eyes on the scaly intruder, we can only imagine her initial reaction. After a moment of sheer panic, she quickly sent one of her other children for a shovel—because sometimes, parental instincts kick in with a swift determination to tackle the unexpected. In a conversation with a reporter from Channel 20, Sarah shared, “I was just standing there thinking, what on Earth do you do? I honestly had no idea!”
We feel for you, Sarah. As parents, we’re often faced with bizarre and unpredictable situations. We find ourselves navigating challenges like explaining why it’s not okay to lick the shopping cart or why it’s inappropriate for our toddlers to ask the mailman about his anatomy. But “What do you do if your child finds a snake in the toilet?” That’s a new one. And the answer? Grab a shovel and take charge.
After Sarah bravely dealt with the snake, her husband, Tim, called a local snake removal service for assistance. They arrived to handle the situation, but what they found next was even more shocking: a total of 24 Western diamondback rattlesnakes had made themselves at home in the Johnson residence. They discovered 13 in the cellar, along with five adults and five babies hidden beneath the house, and of course, that one adventurous snake in the toilet—who had entered through a relief pipe.
In a cheeky post on their Facebook page, the snake removal team reassured parents with a little bedtime moral: “Rattlesnakes are secretive and rely on camouflage to survive. Just because you don’t see them doesn’t mean they aren’t lurking nearby…” Well, that’s comforting!
But we can’t help but wonder: if these snakes are so good at hiding, what was this particular snake doing in a bright white toilet? Perhaps it was a rebellious spirit, breaking the rules and serving as a cautionary tale for the younger snakes. “Kids, don’t be like Jerry, or you might end up facing a shovel,” might be the lesson they’ll remember.
Leo had a simple but wise piece of advice for other kids who might find themselves in a similar predicament: “Always get an adult if you see a snake.”
As for my own kids? They’ll be memorizing every number they can to reach a reliable real estate agent.
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Summary
A boy in Texas discovered a snake in his toilet, leading to a shocking revelation of 24 rattlesnakes in his home. After a frantic call to his mother, the family had to deal with the unexpected and terrifying situation, highlighting the wild unpredictability of parenting.