Meet the Family

There's lots of them... siblings, in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews... that's what happens when you have an LDS family that all lives in the same town. We had Sunday dinner with his younger brother (who's a year older than I am) and the brother's wife and two kids. It was fun.

One advantage to having family far away is that if a little possible dispute comes up, it's usually overlooked as we see eachother too rarely - so we want to ensure the best time when we're together. The Republican and his cousin, who used to hang out when I first started seeing The Rep. are no longer hanging out. His sister-in-law was talking about it saying how the cousin is probably jealous of us dating. (His cousin is 34 and I guess has a hard time with relationships.)

As they discussed the situation I sat thinking, 'we're dating? What is actually considered dating? I mean, I've been spending my free time with him - but does that mean we're dating? We've started to be a bit cuddly, but there hasn't even been a real kiss. Would I consider us dating? Does he refer to me as a friend or a girlfriend? We haven't discussed this. I don't refer to him as a boyfriend. I don't consider him a boyfriend.'

Date: A one time planned event that is usually payed for by the person who does the planning.
"Seeing someone": There's going on several dates with someone, but still dating other people on one level - and there's also going on lots of dates with someone with no intention of not dating others, even if you haven't actually done so.
"Dating": Dating someone with no desire to be seeking other people as possible dates - I think.

Couple status is reached when both parties agree they like eachother and are interested in an exclusive relationship. I think this actually is something that has to be declared - in whatever way it happens. For me, it usually happens when someone else asks "So, how long have you two been together?" We then think about it, and usually say - "so we're together."

I refer to my current status as "Seeing" him.
One does not reach boyfriend title unless they've reached couple status.

My families interactions with past boyfriends varies. Neither Mom nor Dad ever referred to Idaho-White as my boyfriend, though I always did. He was just "your friend." In fact, Utah-White is the only one they've ever referred to as a boyfriend. I guess that's because things were "pretty serious" (Said in the voice of Kip from Napoleon Dynamite). Also, he was the only LDS boyfriend I've had.

Derek was never officially a boyfriend. He was a pseudo-boyfriend. A roller coaster.


I think the Republican is actually a jock. We talked about what we were like in high school the other day. He never got great grades, and wasn't really into anything but basketball and he ran cross country. Me dating a jock? This has never happened before. Every one is different. Or does a jock have to have played football. I don't know how classifications work. He says he was "kind of rebellious" but when asking what that entailed he says he was the kid that slept through seminary every morning - and didn't want to be there because his Dad forced him to go. That doesn't seem very rebellious to me. Most kids in high school seemed that way.

Well, I'm going to go see him tonight (my one early night for the week). We're volunteering at the local D.I.