I am the Queen of endearments! I probably use endearments more than I use names. Ron is mostly baby, sometimes honey or sweetie/sweetie-pie. He calls me baby or love, sometimes honey. My kids and grandkids are variously sweetheart, sweetie, honey, though I use son for all my boys, and often my two grandsons as well. There is something about being older than most everyone else that makes me feel like it's OK to call people honey. I'm not saying it's right, just that as I've aged I've used generic endearments more and more, for people in the grocery store, the doctor's assistant, (I usually call my doctor Doc) customer service types, vendors...you name it. What about you?
We are too sober here in West-Friesland, I think. I refer to the bride as Lieverd or Schat...or Schatje.
I don't use endearments much but I do call my daughter Laura 'flower.' When she was born her mouth looked like a little rosebud. I think she quite likes that she's the only one I have a pet name for.
I do all the time...sometimes a person get's put off my my "sweetie" or "honey" and I just explain that it's all the love in my heart..They accept it and move on...
