Journo placed an ad for co-parent in today's Observer

[suzywong]

It's a quite a long article here

She does question her own action with this paragraph:

"What's in it for the child? Well, me as mother. I'm in a position now to be a good and loving mother. The child will also have a relationship with a father. Am I being selfish? Is the child a commodity? I don't feel that. It's more responsible than having a child on my own. This arrangement puts a child's interests at heart as best as I'm currently able."

Discuss:

shortened version of the article, and some choice blog responses here

I personally think she's somewhat misguided.

think one of the bloggers got it right she doesn't want a father she wants a business partner.``

I think some of the bloggers remarks were venomous character assasinations on her - I can only hope that they don't have children, because if they do they are raising them to be intolerant, judgemental and unpleasant.

Actually I might just try adding to the comments with just that observation

have you done it yet HMC?

ummm 'no' I rarely follow through on absolutely compelling imperatives

"she doesn't want a father she wants a business partner."

Actually, that's really unfair - in the full length version of this article she explains that she has desparately wanted a partner. but having sought long and hard, she has decided not to do without the baby before it's too late.

Hers isn't a choice I would make, but some of the venom - especially from some of the men, is horrid. And innacurate. yes, at 41 her chances of conceiving will have diminished, but there are many MN-ers who conceived after that age.

Lots of women do make a decision to be a single parent - they engineer accidents, have one-night stands, persuade old flames or new flames to co-operate, some get donors. What sems to have upset people here is that she has asked for some willing, planned-in-advance invlvement of the man. Not dragged him to the CSA, not denied a mman even the knowledge that he has a child, not behaved like many men and done a runner...but been upfront about her plan. All they have to do is be up for it, or not!

Women don't half get villified for every aspect of their parenting choices!