The b-word.
“Your boyfriend can’t wait to see you :)”
Lindsay was referring to Wyatt, a younger guy that I met in church. While I adore him, I do have some doubts about our romantic future. Little man is 7 months old.
Normally, this wouldn’t be worth mentioning. Normally. Dear reader, this is where you begin to understand all the neuroses that make this heart go ‘round. Calling Wyatt my boyfriend didn’t bother me a bit. It’s when the phrase is used in reference to men —specifically those who are of a more appropriate age— that I occasionally fall apart.
The only real justification I have ever been able to offer is that referring to someone as my boyfriend implies a certain sort of ownership. Almost as if I have locked him down and am planning my reign as resident Ball-n’-Chain. Let me be clear, I am not advocating for ambiguous relationships. Let me also be clear that as far as I am concerned, calling someone your boyfriend or girlfriend is the relational equivalent of peeing on a fire-hydrant. Quite frankly, I just don’t need that mental picture every time I introduce my family to someone new.
Theoretically, I understand why the term makes me uncomfortable: I don’t like the connotation of ownership. In practice? Eh. It’s semantics and I’m very aware that I’m lending way more weight to the phrase than it really deserves. I have no idea why (or when) it became such a loaded thing. Still, I am curious. Am I the only one who feels awkward about slapping a label on their significant other? Please feel free to explain yourselves.
-SARAH
