Potty Punishment

Why is it that I have to deal with breaking up fights and passing out punishments while I'm in the bathroom? There is no privacy to be found in this house. It never fails, when I go to the bathroom, someone gets hurt.

The bathroom doors busts open, I thought I locked that. A2 runs in screaming "Ahhhhhh, A1 hit my eye bow!" Meanwhile, A1 stands in the shadows of my bedroom with her hand over her mouth trying to hide the smile on her face and choke back a laugh. Here I am trying to console a crying 3 year old with a red welt on her face and go to the bathroom at the same time. I know there isn't anyone who enjoys reading about my potty time but it goes along with the story. Besides, if you are a parent you know it's happened to you!

"A1, did you hit her?" With a shake of her head and that ever present smirk, I get my answer. "You go stand in the corner until I can deal with you."
I turn to A2 and ask "What did she hit you with?"
Her reply, "A1!"
"What did A1 hit you with?" I ask.
"My eye bow!" snob, sniffle, deep breath.
"I know A1 hit you in the eyebrow, did she use her hand?"
"Yes" gulp, snob, wipe snot on mommy.

Two minutes later, A1 in the corner and A2 not crying anymore and I am in the comfy chair, Hubby comes home. Of course he is going to want to know why A1 is in the corner.
"Why are you in the corner A1?"
Miss rudeness stands there with her back to him picking at the wall (that's another story).
"Answer him" I say.
Holding back a smile, "I hit A2."
"Why?" Hubby asks.
"Because I thought she pulled a tag off the puppy."

A1 thought A2 pulled a tag out of a stuffed animal. Well, that's something to hit over. But you know, I was so upset that my private time had been invaded and felt that I had to focus on A2 that I never even thought to ask what had happened. I immediately felt that I had to punish and make better at the same time while I was indispose. I felt a little inadequate as I realized that hubby had used some sense and I had only acted out of selfishness. Or at least I thought I had because I felt I deserve to have alone time enough to step into the bathroom. Really, who can think at times like those?

The light in the kitchen flips on, off, on. I look over and A1 is flipping the light switch. She catches me giving her the look and turns back around. "When can I get out of the corner?"
"When I say you can." And I smile.