For Kristin Cavallari, a quiet night on vacation turned into a real-life nightmare—one that tested her instincts in ways she never imagined. The mom of three and Laguna Beach alum recently opened up about the terrifying moment on her Let’s Be Honest with Kristin Cavallari podcast, sharing that in 2020, while she was in bed with her son Camden, she woke up to find an intruder crawling across her bedroom floor.
“I woke up to a man crawling on my bedroom floor…and I go, ‘What the f— are you doing?’” Cavallari recounted. The intruder, masked and dressed in all black, bolted from the room. In that split second, Cavallari didn’t yell or panic. Instead, her instincts took over—to keep calm, to protect her son, and to move through the moment with quiet courage.
It’s a story that sounds like something out of a thriller, but for moms, it also feels deeply relatable. When danger appears—whether it’s a scary stranger, a sudden accident, or even just a child getting hurt—a mother’s protective instincts kick in with astonishing speed. Kristin’s story is an extreme example of something we see every day: moms rising to the occasion when their children need them most.
The power of maternal instincts in moments of fear
In Kristin’s case, her calm reaction was driven by a primal need to keep her son safe. Instead of panicking, she responded with sharp, protective focus—a reaction that so many moms recognize.
“Because Cam was in the bed with me, I didn’t yell. I didn’t scream,” she said. “You think in those moments that that’s what you’d do, but your instincts just kick in.”
The truth is, parents often underestimate how strong and capable they can be when their children are involved. Whether it’s catching a child before they fall, staying eerily calm in an emergency, or fighting off panic to tend to an injury, maternal instincts are a force of nature. Science backs it up—research has shown that the brain’s protective and caregiving systems kick into overdrive when a parent perceives their child is in danger.
In fact, neurological studies have identified specific brain regions, such as the amygdala and prefrontal cortex, that are activated in these moments. This heightened brain activity facilitates rapid and appropriate protective behaviors. Additionally, the concept of “matrescence” describes the profound neurological and psychological changes mothers undergo, preparing them to prioritize their child’s well-being and act instinctively in high-pressure situations.
Kristin’s experience also reminds us that instincts don’t always look like we expect them to. Sometimes, they’re loud and action-packed. Other times, as Kristin described, they’re calm, quiet, and laser-focused on keeping a child safe.
Related: The transition to becoming a mother is so intense—and there’s a name for it
The emotional weight of protecting our kids
One detail of Kristin’s story hits home for so many mothers: she never told her kids what happened. Even now, years later, her children—Camden (12), Jaxon (10), and Saylor (9)—still don’t know about the ordeal.
“I will not tell them, probably, until they’re adults,” she shared. “Because I just think some things kids do not need to know.”
It’s a powerful reminder of the invisible labor moms shoulder every day to shield their kids from harm—both physical and emotional. We filter the world, deciding what to share, what to protect them from, and when it’s the right time to have difficult conversations. Kristin’s choice not to tell her kids might feel familiar to moms who’ve quietly shouldered fears, worries, or struggles while staying strong for their children.
Related: What would you do for your kids?
What Kristin Cavallari’s story teaches us
Kristin Cavallari’s experience might be extraordinary, but the lessons are universal. Mothers—and parents in general—are capable of incredible strength in moments of crisis.
Whether it’s staying calm during an unexpected emergency, leaping into action to protect your child, or simply showing up day after day with love and resilience, your instincts are powerful. You may not always feel prepared, but when the moment comes, you rise to it—just like Kristin did.
And if there’s one takeaway from her story, it’s this: Moms are often stronger and braver than they know, especially when it comes to protecting the people they love most.
Sources:
- A critical need for the concept of matrescence in perinatal psychiatry. 2024. National Library of Medicine. A critical need for the concept of matrescence in perinatal psychiatry.
- The adaptive human parental brain implications for children’s social development. Ruth Feldman Lab. The adaptive human parental brain implications for children’s social development.
- ‘Mom reflexes are real!’ 2024. Today. ‘Mom reflexes are real!’ Watch the viral video of mom catching her toddler just in time.
