'Cause he ain't my friend and he ain't my lover...

...but I love him so.

Okay, my dear elves.  I need your help desperately.  I need a name for this man.  This very special, lovely man who's got a permanent room in my heart, complete with a half-bathroom and a walk-in closet.

It's been three months now since CK and I "separated."  And yes, the quote marks are necessary, because even though we both consider ourselves single, we're still living in the same house, and [insert legalese mindfuck here], so... yeah.

So far, we've been calling each other "ex."  Well, not actually ex.  It's not like we pass each other in the hallway and say stuff like, "Hey, EX!  Did you feed the dog yet or should I?  Oh, you did?  Thanks, EX!"

But more like, "Oh, hey, I wanna introduce you to my ex-husband?  Isn't he beautiful?  Yes, I said ex.  Yes, I'm still standing next to him with my arm around his shoulders and loving on him.  Yes, I promise I'm not teasing about the ex part.  Yes, DAMMIT, he's my EX!"

*headslap*

I've tried "baby daddy."  But the smirk on people's faces when I say that kinda tells me... um, NO, that's not gonna work.  Oh, hell, no.

Some have suggested "friend."  Well, yeah, he is THAT.  But he's sooo much more.  And when I introduce him as my "fwiend," I also want people to understand that this is a man who pretty much incubated me and my soul for the last ten years and is still my partner in raising our daughter.  He deserves that much, no?

Last weekend a friend of ours suggested Amex.  As in amicable exes, not the credit card.  *guffaw*

So... help.  Help me free this man of the cross he bears.  Literally.  Wait, no... I mean figuratively.  Right?  Um.  Yeah.

Comments

[Jon H.]

I'm partial to "Minion" or "Lackey"

[queenalpo]

I knew I luste-- oops... liked you, Jon. :-P

[Keri]

best friend is the only thing that comes to mind. here's another one: parenting sidekick...? it doesn't translate too well in ASL tho.

[Trudy]

My friend always calls the mother of his son, "John's mother"....that's a bit more classy than *giggle* "Baby daddy"....

Or maybe make away with all labels and just call him...Chris? To hell with what others want to call him. He and you have such a profound history.

[Rob]

The ex that you're on very good terms with.

[DC]

Wow, I agree with Trudy suggestions. So it could be like, Hi, meet Chris, Leah's father. And then do the rest of her suggestions, "to hell what others want to call him." and lastly remember, you don't owe anyone an explanation. Mystery is always a good thing ;)
-DC

[Kelly]

You're overthinking this. Say the truth.

[Lady V]

I agree with Trudy...He has a gubmint name, use it!