Labels can be boyfriend/girlfriend, lady, wife, husband, man, boo, friend with benefits, sugar daddy/momma, side piece, fiancé, phone buddy, friend, boss, sibling, parent, and so on. These labels help you, and even others if necessary, identify what kind of relationship you have with a person, what you can expect from them and vice versa, and what your limits are. I say expect, but I want to make myself clear. There should be very limited expectations in a relationship. Expectations can often lead to disappointment. What I mean by expectations is knowing if this is mutually exclusive, monogamous, purely platonic, do you all go on dates, do you meet the family, friends or no one at all, can you call whenever you like, do you pay for yourself if you two go out and so forth.
While I believe that labels are helpful and essential to relationships, everyone does not need a label. There are some who maintain a clear understanding of what they have with another person without labeling the relationship. This may eventually become a problem with some, but it is not true for all. The bottom line is that those involved in the relationship need to have a clear understanding of what is going on between the two. This way, no toes are stepped on, no one’s part is up for grabs, and nothing is mislabeled even if it is unlabeled.
All the best,
SP