Baby Proof

The decision to have, or not have, children is potentially the biggest of your life. Claudia knew from early on that she did not want to have children. And just when she gave up on finding a man who felt the same way, she met Ben. When they very first met, they agreed they were not interested in having any children. And when they later got married, they were still in agreement: They would not have children. Everything was too good to be true in their childless marriage.

Then the unexpected occurred. Over time, Ben changes his mind, wants to be a father and sets off a chain of emotional action and reaction leading to heartbreak and divorce.

The book follows Claudia from when she meets Ben, through their marriage, and as she tries to come to terms with not wanting to be a mother but not wanting to lose the love of her life over it.

Claudia feels that having a child would limit her freedom and change her life in ways she is unwilling to allow. Ben used to agree with her, but now really wants to be a father. When they cannot come to an agreement on his life-changing issue, they go their separate ways. Ben keeps their New York City apartment and Claudia moves in with her closest girlfriend, Jess. Jess is supportive but has her own messy love life to deal with. Claudia hesitates to turn to her family; her mother is self-centered and her sisters are distracted by their own complicated lives.

Babies are all around Claudia, reminding her of Ben. Her nieces and nephews, a friend's newborn, her sister's infertility, another friend's miscarriage. Everywhere Claudia turns, she is confronted by babies and baby talk!

She starts dating a freedom-loving co-worker, but is the relationship going to last or will she always be in love with Ben? And has Ben moved on and found a woman with whom to have children?

This is a heartfelt story about what happens to the perfect couple when they suddenly want different things. It's about realizing that your life might not follow the plan you want it to. It's about deciding what is most important in life, and taking chances. But most of all, it's about the things we will do, and won't do for love.