Cynthia Field's article on Para-kin describes what the terms can bring to the family and community. link: southkingstown.patch.com/articles/on-love...

Having few serious relationships in my past, I recently started dating and becoming serious with my girlfriend. Although we are merely girlfriend and girlfriend right now, we agreed early on that neither of us liked the words ‘life partner’ or just ‘partner’ in general. It DOES sound like a business related phrase. No sooner had we discussed this when, a few days later, I got a call from my para-mom with this great idea. Introduce the...