In one split second, my whole life could have changed.

Yesterday, in a matter of seconds, our lives could have changed forever.

As I was getting my kids out of the car, my son ran in front of me into oncoming traffic. I could hear a car engine revving closer as I screamed his name. I grabbed him with 1/2 a second to spare and threw him to the right of me. A bewildered looking man slammed on his brakes and we made eye contact. Time stood still.

I couldn't say a single word to the driver of the car. I just turned away and hunched over as I breathed deeply...trying to flood my brain with oxygen. I wasn't mad at the driver. He wasn't necessarily going fast but fast or not, this could have been tragic.

My son's heart was beating out of his chest as I placed him into my shopping cart. He sat there, his head down, quiet.

I pushed the cart to a safe place and stood in the middle of the Kroger parking lot with a hand over my mouth. I just stood there, unable to move. I started to cry. People were staring. I didn't care. I needed to catch my breath. I needed a second.

One woman came over to me. A grandma. Sweet, king, gentle. Petite, 100 pounds maybe. She held me. She told me to breathe. She kept saying, "I am so sorry. I am so so sorry". I needed her. Her love was what I needed in that moment.

A second woman came by and said, "You're still a good mom"...

As if an unforeseeable incident such as this could determine whether or not I was a good mom. I was taken aback by her statement. I knew she meant well...but what a thing to say. I could have used a, "I'm so glad he is okay" instead.

I still made it inside the grocery store. I mindlessly got the items off of my grocery list as I re-played the incident over and over again in my head. Oh my baby. This could have ended so differently. Best case scenario, it would have been a trip to the ER for some minor injuries. Worst case scenario, a living nightmare.

In a matter of seconds. Freaking seconds.

I had a talk with Hunter. Carefully using my words to teach him and not lecture him. He understood the gravity of the situation in a way a 4 year old can.

I am sure many of you have your own story when it comes to your own children. It shakes you to your core. It leaves you reeling. But it's not a, "You're still a good mom"...it's a, "You are a good mom".

With love, Jordan