As Jana Kramer put it, "Literally in a blink of a second...that's how fast a kid could be taken."
The Dancing With the Stars alum and mom of two had an unfortunate scare on Monday, Jan. 4 and has since taken to social media, using the experience as a stark reminder for other parents.
As she explained on Instagram, Kramer was at a park with her husband Mike Caussin and their two kids, Jolie, 4, and Jace, 2, when "the absolute scariest thing" happened there. "We took the kids cause it was a nice day and we needed to get out and took them to a park we know and love," she explained. "We were going down the slides, swinging and having a great time. Jolie met a sweet little girl and they started running around. I watch my kids like hawks but Jolie was running around in the play house so it was hard at times to see her. Needless to say I always had a watch on her."
However, in a brief moment, Jana faced an unforgettable scare. "I went down the slide with Jace again and I saw Jolie running around again with her sweet friend. Mike was also patrolling too but we both went down the slide with Jace because Jolie was running around," she described. "But then the next minute a lady walked up to me and said 'your daughter just got into a white suv.' My heart went straight to my gut and I said WHAT?!!!"
The concerned mom ran to the parking lot. "I then saw Jolie and the little girl coming around the back of the car to which the little girls mom was in car," she recalled. "I clung to Jolie so quick and caught my breath and tried to turn off all the 'what if's' going through my brain."
While no one was harmed, the situation made Jana realize how quickly things can go wrong. "It was an eye opening experience especially for someone like me who is super present. Literally in a blink of a second...that's how fast a kid could be taken," she wrote. "Thank God that's not what happened here and the little girl Jolie was with just wanted to see her mom but it's a reminder for all of us to stay present, be aware because they might not end up like today and be watchful like the amazing mom that came up to me."
The scary incident did spur Jana to teach her daughter an important lesson. "I never had the talk with Jolie. I think I expected her to know she can't leave without mommy or daddy and plus I was always watching," she concluded. "I'm grateful we had the talk today."