In Two Seconds

I've been thinking about all of the times I respond to the requests of my children by saying, "In two seconds." For example: "Mom, can I have a cookie?" "No, we'll be eating dinner in two seconds.." OR, "Mom, will you read me this book?" "Sure, in about two seconds." OR "Mom, I need to leave for school now!" "I know, I will have your hair done in two seconds."

The other night I was getting ready for bed. My two year old came in wanting to use the toilet. He started to take his pants off, so I knew he was serious. I helped get his diaper off and set him on the toilet. He proudly announced, "I did it!" I smiled as I congratulated his success. I still needed to take my contacts out...I considered the time it would take me to find a new diaper, put it on, and get Nate into his pj's. I then considered it would only take me "two seconds" to take out my contacts and then I could devote my time to Nathan. I quickly pulled up his pants leaving him bare, but thinking since he'd just gone potty, what could possibly go wrong?

I had one contact out when Nathan exclaimed, "I need to go Potty!" Out of habit I responded, "Just give me two seconds..." I was assuming he just wanted my attention. As I reached for my glasses, Nathan was doing his, "I did it song and gallop" around my bathroom. Even without my contacts in my glasses gave me enough sight to see some dark smudges on my bathroom floor that I didn't remember seeing before. I quickly asked Nate, "What did you do?" He proudly told me he pooped in his pants. Yep, he did and without a diaper or underwear it was sliding down his pant leg onto the floor. He was enjoying stepping in it and squishing it around on the cool tile floor.

I grabbed him by the shoulders and begged him to hold still for "two seconds" while I would be running to get some rags and baby wipes to clean up the mess and then be able to get him into the tub. Two seconds later, my entire floor was painted with swirls of pooh. I think I need to re-evaluate using my "two seconds" response. Definitely, two seconds for a toddler is far too long to hold still and way too long to fly free.