Does a Mom's emotion overpower her instincts?

We got a new hamster last Friday. Short haired teddy bear female hamster named Lucy.  My husband affectionately calls her Lucinda.  Unlike Stewie (our other hamster), Lucy is very adventurous and daring. She's quick on her feet, makes these little noises and is very attentive to us.  She runs away from me and plays with my husband.....(what can I say?? he's got that effect on females both in and out of uniform!!)

Anyways, I decided to let her play in Stewie's old ball yesterday (the picture is of Stewie in his old ball) so she can run around and explore the rest of the house.  The little "door" to the ball does not close all the way. I should have known better but decided to use it anyways so she can leave her cage.  A half hour later I realized that I couldn't hear her rolling around the kitchen anymore.  I dash over there only to see what I was hoping I wouldnt....the ball was empty.  Argh! Sniff! Sniff! Waaah!!  We looked ALL over the apartment for her.  My husband with the flashlight and I was calling out her name.  Hubby even went outside to see if she was in the hallway....we were worried she crawled into the neighbor's homes.

Right before going to bed, we decided to check the kitchen area one more time.  I kept hearing her but kept thinking it was in my head.  My husband for some reason had a gutt feeling she was in the kitchen.  I was convinced she was gone and even put her cage in the kitchen in the event she decided to come back.  After what seemed to be an eternity, right when I was giving up, my husband spots her little head poking out from under the fridge.  Mind you....he had checked it a few times already.  At this point, I just plopped on the ground crying again.  That's our little Lucinda.

I asked my husband how he knew to stand by the kitchen and wait for her.  He said it was just instincts.

It took forever to fall asleep last night because I kept wondering if my emotions (primarily guilt of using that broken ball for her to play with) overpowered my instincts. My heart kept telling me she's home somewhere, but my mind was convinced she had snuck out through the gap under the door.  And it was all my fault!  Why didn't I wait by the kitchen patiently for her to come out after she was done playing?  What would I have done if my husband was deployed and I had to deal with this all by myself?

I know owning pets doesn't make me a true mother, but I cant help but wonder if I would be quick to give up on my own children in situations where they would make my heart skip a beat.

Definitely learned a lesson on parenting today.

To all you mom's that are reading this.  Have you ever felt like your emotions get the best of you when it comes to dealing with your children?  Or is it natural to think/act fist and cry later?
I know they say a mother's instincts is like no other...

Mrs. Sgt. P.