I'll never forget my first mama bear moment. I was at the playground chatting it up with another mommy friend while my son, who was about 3 at the time, happily played. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that an older kid (let's call him 5 years old) was starting to tease my son. All my focus immediately turned away from chatting and on to my son and this playground bully. I really tried my best to stay out of it and let my kiddo handle himself. I really did. That was until the punk kid said the worst thing one child could say to another child on the playground: he called my son a baby.

Oh, no you didn't.

So when the child's mother did not rush over (or even glance up from her cell phone) to reprimand her boy and apologize to my now crushed son, I had enough and decided to have a few words with the child myself. I very clearly laid it out that he was not to speak that way to my son again or he would have to deal with me. I then felt a few of the other moms' eyeballs on me, which then made me immediately feel regretful (you know, for being that mom). Then I decided they had all actually silently praised me as their playground hero, as this kid was also tormenting a few other kids — but especially because even the best of us have found ourselves involved in situations that cause hurt feelings for our children. It's called having a mama bear moment, and it's not always pretty. Not familiar? Here's how it goes down.

Suddenly your mama bear radar goes off.

You were simply minding your own business when your ears perk up to an unpleasant sound of someone putting down your child. You decide to let it play out on its own — after all, kids will be kids.

Meanwhile, your blood starts to boil.

"Conceal, don't feel," you tell yourself.

But it continues, and you're starting to get really pissed.

Where on earth are this kid's parents? Surely they are going to step in at any moment . . . right?

So you just make your presence known to the punk kid.

Ahem, your mom might not be watching, but this mama is.

Finally, the bear is awakened.

The offending kid doesn't really seem to care that you're watching and so you've finally hit your limit. Move aside, mama bear is here!

You know you could take this kid easily.

But obviously you don't.

So instead you control yourself.

This will not get the best of me. Let the kids work it out themselves. Let the kids work it out themselves. Let the kids . . .

Until you can't hold it in anymore.

Enough is enough.

After you've said your peace, you feel triumphant.

Especially if the child runs away in fear.

That is, until you feel guilty.

Crap, the kids probably should have (and could have) worked it out themselves. Why did I have to go all mama bear on that kid?

But you settle on feeling content with your actions.

Your child needed to see that you were not going to let anyone make him feel bad. Nope, not on your watch. There's always next time to let the kids work it out . . .