I may only have one "kid" at home (with a ton of nicknames), but I've accidentally blurted out the wrong name in the past. Have you ever called your pets by the name of another pet or – gasp! – by the name of a Sig-O or human child? It's time to confess below.
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. So how do you all feel about the word fiance? If you're engaged, is that how you refer to your future husband, or do you keep things simple by calling him your boyfriend or significant other?
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. So are you with me on this one? Does it bother you to hear these silly names? If not, how do you describe your period?
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. Does it make you feel special or do you find it way too phony and cheesy?
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?
While vegging on the couch over the weekend, I caught a rerun of The Real Housewives of New York City. Just joining one of the families was a new ($1,800) West Highland White Terrier puppy named Aston. With some skepticism (and sarcasm), the Countess LuAnn de Lesseps and fam discuss the reasoning behind the name and mention adding another pup named Martin before picking up the car. Surely, a second dog (and Aston Martin) are not beyond a Count's budget, but hey, who knows?! While the son earnestly agrees with the dad's name, and I've heard of many different reasons for naming a pet, I couldn't help but wonder if the name of this pooch was entirely the boy's choice. After all, I named my first dog Joey after a boy I had a crush on in preschool. Now I'd love to hear the name of your first pet in the comments below!
Okay, you've gotten through the hard part – you've done all your homework, met lots of prospective pets, and finally settled on one . . . congratulations! Chances are you've also given some thought to what you're gonna be calling that new pal of yours. Of course, you'll want a name that sounds and feels right, but you also don't want to be embarrassed yelling "come here Mister Foo Foo Fuzz" across a crowded dog park. Now, I've already shared that I named my childhood dog after a boy I had a crush on in preschool (ack, I know), yet my current pup, North, was nearly a Piper. I decided it would be a super cute name . . . but I took one look at that lil' guy and decided he was certainly no Piper. I finally settled on North before I even returned to Manhattan – I traveled on the Metro-North Railroad, and met the breeder at the Brewster North stop. It seemed like two hints too many so home arrived North. I know I'm not the only one who had a challenging pet naming process so I'm curious where your pets got their names . . . and you know I still want to hear those names in your comments too!
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? I really can't remember the last time my best friend used my "real" name; unless we're in public, we mostly use any number of goofy little names we've assigned each other over the years.
So, do tell, what pet name do your friends call you by, and what do you call your best friends?
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? Please please please tell me it isn't true!
Thankfully, everyone I talked with seemed to remember affectionate nicknames between grandparents or parents, aunts and uncles. Here's the brief list I collected: Bubby, Pooky, Popie, Sweet Cheeks, Schweebers, Mama Bear, Chicomambasso, and Boo.
Dear readers, in honor of Valentine's day and all things schmoopy, please share with us your own private pet name, one you've given to a lover, or one you remember hearing between friends or relatives. And long live silliness and sweetness!
