Mother’love
Timeisrunningoutformyfriend.Whilewearesittingatlunchshecasuallymentionssheandherhusbandarethinkingofstartingafamily."We'retakingasurvey,"shesays,half-joking."DoyouthinkIshouldhaveababy?"
"Itwillchangeyourlife,"Isay,carefullykeepingmytoneneutral2."Iknow,"shesays,"nomoresleepinginonweekends,nomorespontaneous3holidays..."
Butthat'snotwhatImeanatall.Ilookatmyfriend,tryingtodecidewhattotellher.Iwanthertoknowwhatshewillneverlearninchildbirthclasses.Iwanttotellherthatthephysicalwoundsofchildbearingwillheal,butbecomingamotherwillleaveherwithanemotional4woundsoraw5thatshewillbevulnerable6forever.
Iconsiderwarningherthatshewillneveragainreadanewspaperwithoutthinking:"WhatifthathadbeenMYchild?"Thateveryplanecrash,everyhousefirewillhaunther.Thatwhensheseespicturesofstarvingchildren,shewillwonderifanythingcouldbeworsethanwatchingyourchilddie.Ilookathercarefullymanicured7nailsandstylishsuitandthinkthatnomatterhowsophisticated8sheis,becomingamotherwillreducehertotheprimitive9levelofabearprotectinghercub10.
IfeelIshouldwarnherthatnomatterhowmanyyearsshehasinvestedinhercareer,shewillbeprofessionallyderailed11bymotherhood.Shemightarrangeforchildcare,butonedayshewillbegoingintoanimportantbusinessmeeting,andshewillthinkherbaby'ssweetsmell.Shewillhavetouseeveryounceofdiscipline12tokeepfromrunninghome,justtomakesureherchildisallright.
