Vocabulary
Here is how I see it. When two people are:
Seeing each other
There have been a couple of dates, but there is no commitment. It would be okay for either or both of them to see other people with similar lack of commitment.
Exclusive
They have decided to only date each other. Occasions like friends’ parties or sporting events are fun to attend together. Synonyms might include going steady or dating.
Official
There is a certain level of commitment. Labels like “girlfriend� or “the boy� might be applied to individuals; collectively, they are a “couple.� Expectations for semi-regular nights out may come at this stage.
Long-term
The couple starts attending family functions, weddings, and graduations together. Family members assume that the significant other will come to major events as is reasonable and rumblings about the future start. Enough time has gone by that there is a sense of security in the relationship. Breaking up would be painful.
It seems like everyone has their own spin on the stages of a relationship and what everything is called. What do you think?
dating, relationships, communication, significant others
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March 23rd, 2007 at 3:00 am
Yes.. with Jase, it felt like we went from seeing each other, (2 dates?) to exclusive, to long term. Although I knew it was HIM from the moment we met each other. Not sure about him, though.
What comes after long term but before engagement? Surely there’s got to be another category too..
March 25th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
Alynda - I know what you mean… but I’m not sure what the engaged-to-be-engaged phase is called. Longer term? Or maybe just committed? I think things can get wacky when one term means two different things for people, you know?
April 10th, 2007 at 1:43 am
It gets even more compliated when you look outside the US where many couples never marry. I’m an American in Australia and my husband and I were living together for more than 8 years before we married. More as an excuse for a big party than anything else. Partners are equal to spouses here so that’s good.