Hi

My partner and I have been together for over a year (although we have known each other for 20 years) we are living together and comitted to each other. He has a 9 year old son, his son and I get along fantastically and we are very close, there is just one problem: he wont call me by anything (any name or title). He is a shy boy and dislike strangers, but our relaitionship is good, I give him lots of love and care, and he returns the love in his akward 9 year old way. When we are together he just avoids situations where he would have to address me by a name and if he talks about me with others he calls me her/she.
My partner says just to be patient as he is still figuring out my role in his life and if Im going to be long-term.
I am trying to be patient but its becoming difficult, it makes me feel like a non-entity... What causes this type of behaviour, maybe if I understood I can accept it or should I just give it time and not take it personally?