"[Kate] is considering dating, as long as it doesn't take away from being with the children," said the insider. "Kate never really imagined what her life would be like with the sextuplets in school most of the day. She and Jon used to talk about it like it was a far off dream when they were raising them and now that it's real and Jon is out of her life, it's surreal."

So what kind of guy is Kate looking for? Other than the rare individual who doesn't have a problem taking on eight children not his own?

"Kate's dream man will be mature, smart and nothing like [her ex-husband] Jon!" said our source. "He will have to pass her serious checklist of being a responsible, kind and mature adult. She will be avoiding anyone who wants to date her based on her fame or money. It's tricky and she will be very picky -- no blind dates!"