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Pet Names For Partners: Nice or Nauseating?
Baby talk among adults is a definite no-no in my book, but what about calling your significant other by a name no one else does? The nickname can be as simple as "sweetie" or as creative as "schmooky pie."
It can be conforming and natural to use a name that expresses affection for your significant other, as long as people around you don't find the constant assertion of endearment annoying.
Where Do You Stand? Overusing Pet Names
Run of the mill pet names like babe, honey, or gorgeous are really sweet when they come from the love in your life, but since they are such standard terms of endearment, it's easy to use them with your friends, too.
For example, when a girlfriend of mine was dating her now-ex-boyfriend, he would always refer to her as sweetie, but he referred to her friends as sweetie too! To be honest it creeped me out a bit — if I were her I'd want that nickname to remain sacred between us — but tell me where you stand on the idea of reusing pet names with platonic friends.
Dear Poll: Do You Like the Word Fiance?
People I know are getting engaged left and right, but the word fiance seems to be used less and less. I don't really mind it myself, but it does kind of have a snobby ring to it — the word boyfriend just sounds so much more laid-back! On the other hand, some people use the word with a lot of pride and excitement when referring to their future husband.
A Do or a Don't: Period Pet Names
I’m a fan of slang terms (uh, lady business!), but there’s something that just bothers me when people use a slang term for their periods. I mean there's nothing cute about a period! I completely understand wanting to avoid using menstruation to describe what’s typically an unpleasant few days, but “period” is just so much less visual and more succinct than Aunt Flo, crimson wave, on the rag, or the monthly gift.
Where Do You Stand: Men That Refer to You With Pet Names
Calling your significant other by a pet name is a cute term of endearment, but it makes my skin crawl when a guy calls me hot stuff, sweetie, darling, or baby when we're not in a relationship! I'm sure they mean no harm by it, but when they reuse those nicknames with more than one woman at a time, they lose their value and become way too contrived. Of course, this is just my opinion so tell me where you stand on men that aren't your boyfriends calling you pet names.
Where Do You Stand: Calling Your Girlfriends Pet Names
I'm all for using pet names in a romantic relationship, but what about using them with your girlfriends? I think "babe" is one of those terms of endearment that can be used for either sex, but more personal nicknames like sweetie or honey just seem a bit inappropriate when referring to your gal pal. Of course that's just my opinion, so tell me ladies, where do you stand on using pet names with your girlfriends?
Do Tell: Nicknames Between You and Your Friends
Pet names or nicknames reveal intimacy and familiarity; special people in our lives frequently find themselves with new and special names, names created and communicated usually and strictly between friends.
Around Valentine's Day, we asked you to share your pet names for your significant others; the answers ranged from the romantic to the purely silly, showing just how inspired, creative and unique this kind of naming can become.
But what about all those silly nicknames we have for our friends?
DearSugar's Week of Big Love: Tell Us Your Endearing "Pet" Name, Babycakes!
After a very informal survey, I discovered that very few couples of my generation have created cute little pet names for each other. Has this sweet and intimate tradition between lovers become a lost art? Is cute dead?
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Is It Okay to Reuse a Pet Name?
My ex and I had pet names for each other. They weren't tacky, cutesy, or provocative (well, at least we didn't think so), they were just something that added a little sweetness to our relationship. When we broke up and I started dating someone new, I instinctively almost called my new guy by the same pet name.
Top 10 Pet Names for "Pet Owner"
Note that this list is from the pet point of view. As if we didn't already know that we're on their leashes...
10.
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