> changes that happened almost instantly when our first child was born. It was like someone flipped a switch. I suddenly felt protective not just toward our chi

> changes that happened almost instantly when our first child was born. It was like someone flipped a switch. I suddenly felt protective not just toward our child, but toward all children. This was my experience, too, and I was utterly unprepared for it despite having been told to expect it -- and even welcoming such a change in myself. So Paul is right, there seems to be no substitute for first-hand experience in this case.