Something happens to women at conception far beyond any scientific explanation. A change occurs almost the instant a woman finds out she's expecting. She begins to protect and love something only she can feel, and she realizes much sooner than her husband that her life is not her own anymore. From that moment, women become mothers, and it's a remarkable transformation.

I was pretty much clueless until that baby popped its little head out nine months later. The "glow" of pregnancy doesn't transfer to men. Instead men develop a sense of insecurity and curiosity.

We're not sure what a hormone is, but we know at least one of them and several million of its buddies are transforming our once beautiful and sexy spouses into one gigantic mood swing. Energetic wives who could barely eat a bowl full of Special K in the morning can suddenly be found lying on the couch snoring under a puddle of drool and a few thousand brownie crumbs.

Sure, I got a hint of fatherhood when I watched and felt my baby contort and kick my wife's swollen belly in bed late at night, but I could still just roll over and go to sleep. I wasn't rocking anyone or changing any soiled diapers. Reality didn't set in for me until I saw that messy, first tuft of hair in the delivery room. Then, and only then, did I start to get it.

Women get it a lot earlier.

Before that baby pokes its little head into the world, women begin rocking it to sleep or reading it Green Eggs and Ham on the floor in their minds over and over. They can already see first steps and hear first words. Women can even imagine holding a scared little hand during those monumental steps into school the very first time. They know the quickest route from the house to the emergency room and are prepared to take it at 3 am to get rid of a fever. They can even feel the pain caused by a bully in school or the pride of a perfect report card during these early months in utero.

Long before their child's first breath, women can see the dance recitals and baseball games in their future. They are ready to bandage skinned knees and nurse broken hearts. They have even practiced tying bow ties for awkward boys in tuxedos for the first time and thought about their daughters' wedding dress that they will help pick out.

From that magic moment, women can imagine the joy they will feel when their children will become parents long before they even make their official entrance on earth while men wonder if certain physical enhancements that occur during pregnancy will remain after the baby comes.

We are not bad people, we're just men. The forces of nature aren't converging on us. We're mere spectators and errand boys. I can't feel all the emotions of growing a child, but I can sure make a midnight run to Publix for some chocolate-chocolate chip ice cream.

I suspect that's just the way it's supposed to be.