When do you know it’s time to call each other boyfriend and girlfriend?

When do you know it’s time to call each other boyfriend and girlfriend?

Is it ever soon to call him your boyfriend or call her your girlfriend, does it have to take nine (9) dates, exchange of gifts or 3 months into the relationship. I mean you’ve been dating that special someone for a while now and have both established you weren’t seeing other people. You’re even calling each other pet names like “babe, sweetie, honey,…etc” you practically seeing each other every weekend, every public holiday but haven’t exclusively given each other that label.  Whether you believe in titles or not—you my friend, are in what we call…a relationship. Truthfully I don’t know about you but I call a man my boyfriend after we have had a conversation about it, just so we can all be on the same page.

But even before you wait for that talk, there are some signs to that clearly show you are boyfriend and girlfriend.

You’re sleeping together. If you’ve already done the dirty with your partner, then there’s no time like the present to make it official. Sleeping together is the emotional equivalent of saying “All bets are off,” meaning that no matter how much, or how little time has passed, if you’ve already gone that extra mile in the bedroom, then it’s never too soon to ask where your relationship stands.

You’re actually sleeping together. It’s a sad world we live in where sleeping over is a bigger relationship milestone than having intercourse. So it is that if you’re actually spending the nights consistently at each other’s apartments, then you, my friend, may just be in a relationship.

You’ve become an “us.” This doesn’t always mean a simple: He says “we” instead of “me.” Instead, does he talk about you guys in future tense? Do you make plans for upcoming weekends, host mutual get-togethers, or make sure that your separate groups of friends are inter-mingling? This is a definite sign you’re in relationship territory.

You leave other options hanging. So you’re getting other offers. If you’re getting other attractive offers and your “yes/no/maybe-so” relationship is throwing you off an answer, then you definitely need to find out what’s going on. Don’t let your non-committal crush hold you back from a real relationship, if that’s what you’re looking for.

Other options don’t always have to be romantic, either. Such as turning down offers from your BFFs. If you find yourself pining over the potential time with your guy, instead of the guaranteed night out with your girlfriends one night, then you know it’s time to start getting this “relationship” in order.

All your friends and all of his friends think you’re together. It really helps move the process along if his friends have not only met you and loved you, but they’ve also already referred to you as his girlfriend. If you’re in with the friends, there’s more of a chance you’re in with the guy. Plus, if you’ve already become good friends with his friends, they might just be willing to spill the beans about how your fella really feels about you.

You’ve met each other’s parents. Some people spend years together begging –or just the opposite– to meet the parents. If you’ve bagged an introduction after just a short while together, it may just be time to change your Facebook status!

Keep in mind that this means more than simply bumping into mom and dad while at your local coffee shop. Likely you’ve had dinner at their house or gotten to know them well enough to give you an obligatory Christmas present. This means your man talks about you enough, that they felt like they should be giving you a gift. And in the world of pre-relationship dating, this is a very good thing. 

Your “dating/non-dating” farce has lasted 6+ months. If your rendezvous has lasted six months or more, it’s time to label that baby. How can you possibly go another month and not know where you stand? Are you exclusively not seeing other people? Do you spend all of your time together with little room for other activities? Do you text and talk all day long? If it’s a yes, then what else are you waiting for?

You’ve become his event-date. If you’ve become his kissing-buddy wingman, odds are you are paving your way to relationship-ville. This means that not only do you smooch on a regular occasion, but you are also his first call for date night, local events, movie nights, and any other occasion where he needs a date.

You are BFFs. You tell each other everything. If there’s gossip or goodies to talk about, he’s the first one on your list and the same goes for him. If you truly consider each other your best friend, and you’re engaging in risky romantic behavior, then you owe it to your love life, and your friendship, to put a stamp of approval on your goings-on.

It can be awkward to be the one to initiate the “where is this going” conversation. But the awkwardness is a small price to pay when you compare it to the indefinite uncertainty of having no idea what your status is! So do any or all of the above suit your situation, maybe it’s time you had the boyfriend girlfriend talk.

Making a relationship official shouldn’t be hard work. If it’s right for you, you’ll know it without having to read between the lines.