Offers of "help" with ttc

[frog]

I blog and have done so for several years, now. When turtle and I were trying to get me pregnant last summer/fall, I talked about that on the blog. When we stopped, I talked about that on the blog. I talk about my feelings around still having no tadpoles on the blog.

Every so often, we get an offer of "help" via email related to the blog. Most recently, someone I've never met offered to carry a child for us. In the past, various readers have offered their own or their SO's sperm.

I'm not interested in pursuing any of these offers, but I have no idea what to do with them when they're made. In the past, I've sort of ignored them, but as my traffic increases, it's happening more frequently.

Any suggestions for how to handle this?

[FtMPapa]

Ask Miss Manners!

I think a form e-mail, something along the lines of "Thank you for your generous offer, but we're not interested" except said a little more eloquently would be appropriate for the "nice" offers. "Creepy" offers, if any, should be ignored.

[Ruthla]

Maybe mention something on your blog itself that you don't want any offers, or you're uncomfortable using sperm from somebody that isn't carefully screened, or somebody you don't personally know well, etc. Or maybe share on the blog that you've been creeped out by some of these offers?

[gamitzer]

Does your blog have a profile or FAQ section? That might be a good place to list your feelings on that. I'm sure some people won't read it, but maybe enough will that it will at least slow down the offers. And I second the reply about form letters. Make it easy on yourself, and send something short and sweet to those that offer in a non-creepy way.
We actually had a friend offer IRL and it was kinda shocking. When we told him we were ttc, he was surprised we hadn't asked him about it yet because he assumed he was going to be our donor. That was awkward.
Good luck! Meredith

[Phoenix_Rising]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

Maybe mention something on your blog itself that you don't want any offers, or you're uncomfortable using sperm from somebody that isn't carefully screened, or somebody you don't personally know well, etc. Or maybe share on the blog that you've been creeped out by some of these offers?

this sounds like a really good idea to me. . .

[frog]

This is all really great input--thank you so much!