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.