Terms of endearment
by Jane Sissons
“I love you, bubsie wubsie, sugar pie.”
Many would think this was the vocabulary of a two-year-old, but, unfortunately, it’s what many people in relationships call one another.
Why do we need to express our feelings for someone by inventing horrendously childish and embarrassing nicknames?
Nicknames that many girlfriends promise their partners are for their ears only, are actually known to all and sundry.
It’s amazing and also horrifying to hear romantic nicknames such as “Bunny” and “Smooch” being used between smug couples.
Doesn’t this kind of co-oing make you completely nauseous?
One particularly creepy nickname that I warn you not to use (as you will no doubt face public humiliation), is calling your partner “Daddy”. It’s just too disturbing for words, and will be completely misinterpreted when used in front of strangers.
A boyfriend I was dating in high school wrote in a Valentines Day card, “Snuggle bear”.
Pass me a bucket, someone. I literally split my sides with laughter as soon as I read those immortal words. Needless to say he wasn’t impressed with my reaction. We split up.
Romantic nicknames are openly used in public by some couples, while others only use them in the privacy of their homes.
On the other hand, there are people like me who just can’t stand the thought of being called a type of pie or animal.
Although I have to admit, when I am feeling rather romantic, I may call my boyfriend “babe” or “hun”. But that’s as far as it goes.
Romantic nicknames are just disturbing.
Is it just me, or do others have this passionate distaste of ‘romantic’ nicknames?
Hate them. Either call me by my proper name, or don’t bother. I was referred to as “my little swamp duck” by someone once. A term of endearment? My eye.