Darling

I was wondering today about where the word "darling" comes from.  I've found myself using it a lot lately - my son is now my Darling with a capital D, and I address him as such rather than using his name more and more often.

When I was a girl, I wanted to grow up to be a Lady.  My idea of a Lady was of someone very proper, always well dressed, and ready to handle every situation thrown at her.  Part and parcel of that was of course using the correct vocabulary of which "darling", or rather, "dahhling", was a highlight.  After a while though I forgot to try and use it, and discovered it was harder than I had imagined to grow up.  All ideas of Ladyhood were soon shelved.

I never really used any terms of endearment with my family, and the only one I applied to anyone else was "honey" or "hon".  So when I met my husband, I unleashed all my creativity on him.  I call him "Amore", "Caro Mio", "Caro" or even "Husband".  He doesn't like it when I call him that :)   I rarely call him by his name though, unless it's a serious conversation. 

When our son was born, Husband (let's refer to him as that here) immediately started giving him nicknames and using terms of endearment.  The one that stuck was "trottolino", which is why I am now "trottolina".  I on the other hand borrowed these, and didn't have my own private way of addressing Darling.  Well, I do now!  Even though he says to me (at three and half years old):

"I am not Darling, I a Big Boy!"