Jennie Withers, a successful, happy, single 41-year-old wants badly to have a child. Problem is, she can't adopt and doesn't want to be a single parent.
Jennie thinks parenting a child should be a joint venture from beginning to end and wants to have her baby with someone who can make a lifetime commitment. There are no co-parenting forums to speak of, and Jennie has thought long and hard about how to proceed.
So how to find that person?
This is where you come in. Jennie has been interviewed for this week's Observer Magazine and spells out what she's looking for in a prospective parent.
'What sort of man am I looking for? I envisage a co-parent being middle class, professional and with values similar to mine. Age and ethnic origin aren't important. Physical characteristics don't matter that much, although obviously I'd prefer an attractive father for my child. In fact, the only thing that really matters is shared values. Whether he's gay, straight or in another relationship is irrelevant. I just want someone who's willing to be a father and co-parent. I'd also like him to offer some financial support.
'What of my relationship with the co-parent? I think it'd be best not to have sex with him. I think sex is a bad idea unless it's with someone I want to be having sex with. In which case, why wouldn't that person be a lover and partner? In all cases, I'd screen for HIV. Then I envisage using a home insemination kit. I wouldn't want a co-parent to live with me. Maybe he'd have another partner, male or female. Ideally he'd live nearby.'
