It's funny the stuff we worry about, and then it is no big deal, huh? Hope you and your guy had a good time.

Well I am 38 and my guy is 48-and "boyfriend" sounds juveline and "manfriend" sounds wierd. I have only been dating this guy since August-and am shocked how many people are already expecting to hear the "F WORD"!!


(fiancee) LOL
Enjoyed reading this thread-think I will just stick to his name.
CHEERS!
WW

I've been in a long-term relationship for 11 years now (we've lived together for 6 years), so I've had to deal with this for a long time. I hate using the word boyfriend because it sounds like we just started dating, it doesn't really convey the depth of our relationship. And it also sounds juvenile.

I've also found that just introducing him by his name alone absolutely doesn't work. It's sounds good in theory but, in practice, people really want me to define the relationship and are uncomfortable if I don't do this. If I just introduce him by his name, I almost always get some sort of strange look at a minimum and at worst someone will go on to make a joke out of it.

So I go with "partner." It's true that this word is most often used in same0sex relationships but when I am introducing him to someone, it's pretty clear I'm not a lesbian because he's standing right there. When I'm referring to him in absentia, I figure 1) it's not the worst thing in the world for someone to accidently think I'm a lesbian (I mean really, what's the big deal) and 2) eventually, they'll figure it out. At some point, usually pretty quickly, I'm bound to refer to him by name or using the pronoun "he," and that clears up the whole question. Only once in the six years that we've been living together and I've been consistently using the word partner have I ever had to explain to anyone that I'm not a lesbian.

I think it's good to use the person's name. I find myself saying "my husband" a lot and it annoys me I don't know how other people feel about it. I just figure it's easier than explaining who Scott is for people who don't pay that close of attention to me (and i always assume they aren't hehe)

Anyway, Wildwoman, what you said about the "F" word is so true. Just wait... it's a never ending cycle. We moved in together it was when are you getting married? we got married it was when are you having kids? It just never ends! I am still trying to find the most appropriate comment for people to that question... i'm inclined to say - "since we're on the subject of progressing life milestones, when is your funeral?" but that seems a little harsh.. what do you think? *LOL* Seriously though, my mother in law buys gifts for our unborn children when we have told her several times we are not having kids. Bah! Sorry, didn't mean to take over the thread with my rant.

Name is the way to go.