"girlfriend" - *grumble*

[garnet]

I don't know, I'm 32 years old, SO is 35, we both have children, we are both divorced, I loathe the term girlfriend! I feel like it should be left at the prom or something. To him, I ever so maturely call myself his "disposable" hehe. He knows I hate bf/gf. Away from him I never know what to say, that I like. The man I'm involved with? The man I'm seeing? I really only like SO in written form. (Yes, I'm super picky about this, and it's worse since we're l.d. - we all have our "thing.")

We need some new phrase for us older folks who aren't yet engaged. Of course that would be far preferable to any sort of new term. :P

He's still absolutely everything I could hope for, and really, I grasping at straws to even have a complaint.

I guess I'll make the point of this post, how do you feel about the bf/gf title as you step away from 30, hit 40, 50, 60? Does it bother you any more if you're already divorced or have kids?

[Black_Halloween]

Maybe you can use the term "Partner" instead?

[snow_girl]

My Grandma at her seniors complex is seeing this older gent and we think it is so cute she has a bf! hehe I thought of that when you started getting higher in ages.

I googled this cause I've thought about it before but couldn't think of anything. Significant other isn't horrible. I saw one person suggest 'soul mirror', sweetheart, beau/belle, Partner is always a good one...but when ever I hear it I think they are gay and not comfortable saying which it actually is.

[Moon]

I hate it too, but haven't found anything better. Sometimes I just call him "my guy", or something just as dumb I don't like partner, anyone can be your partner in something, like a work project, or a game of charades, so I'm not a fan. It's weird when you get older

[rubydissolution]

I'll be 30 in a year, but I've never had an issue with the gf/bf titles. Makes me feel young I guess...lol.

[Lilly9886]

We have a term in German which translated is "lifepartner"! I think I like this one!

[ioanna]

Partner or companion are terms i like and find appropriate.

by the way, you new pic is awesome! you guys look cute together

[Tanja]

I was happy to be called a gf! It made me feel younger I suppose. There's just something cute when someone calls me s girl cause let's be honest, my girly days are long gone =D

I'm not a huge fan of partner either, it sounds a little emotionless. What about lady- and malefriend? That's what Finnish people use when they get older. Companion would be ok for me I think but I still prefer gf :P

[Carenza LaRue]

I guess I'll make the point of this post, how do you feel about the bf/gf title as you step away from 30, hit 40, 50, 60? Does it bother you any more if you're already divorced or have kids?

I SO agree with you.... I never felt like a girlfriend to my SO.... not a girl any longer and it bothers me too.....
my SO is 55.... hardly a boy

and frankly..... I have the same with the word SO..... because he is not really my 'other' ..as in 'a reflection of me'
no, I see him as him being his own person!

partner is the most obvious but it still doesn't cover all we are.
manfriend doesn't do it either, it's too neutral and can be any one in my list of friends
special friend looks as if he is only good for one thing in the bedroom

and the list goes on.... hahaha

I only use the word SO here, before I joined in, I even didn't know it existed. but outside this site, I never use it... it's awkward
with that, as my daily language is Dutch, I don't use the term boyfriend much... in Dutch we use the word 'vriendje'
which I personally don't like as well, because it is the belittling form of 'vriend' ..... translated as 'friend'
thinking of that.... the construction is the same in English (wow, I just found out as I write this haha)
friend for manfriends.... and boyfriend for the man you love.
how weird is that huh?

let's see what the other members come up with....

[Bex2804]

I know some people who call their 'boyfriend' their 'other half' to me it sounds quite cute you know after that thing that you were made with two eyes,ears, hands, feet, lungs etc but only one heart so you could find the heart that matches yours, cheesy I know, but sweet

[lademoiselle]

Here, I'd say "partner" is the most common term. I'd probably use it too if I were in that situation. I don't think I'd mind "significant other" either, but to me it's a bit of a mouthful!

[Softy]

I like bf/gf but ummm...

Often i say ' my man' hehe.
One of my friend calls his couple ' life partners'

: )

[blankita719]

I hate using girlfriend/boyfriend too. I'm 34 and he is 43. We're not girls and boys any longer. He says LOML when he refers to me (which is his shorthand for love of my life), and I typically use significant other if I have to. Most of the time I'll just use his name when I refer to him. Partner just doesn't seem right to me. I feel strange even saying the word boyfriend.

[lucybelle]

My SO is in his early 30s and I call him my "boyfriend" and he calls me his "girlfriend". Hell, before both my parents got remarried I called their SO's "my mom's boyfriend" or "my dad's girlfriend". And they're both mid-50s.

[ThePiedPiper]

My mom usually refers to hers by his name. She isn't aversed to using "boyfriend" though.