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Life is wonderful when you start dating someone you like. You wake up each morning with a smile on your face. There’s an extra pep in your step.

Finding a guy you like who likes you back is amazing. Who doesn’t love the excitement of a new romantic partner? It’s like being a kid at Disneyworld.

Unfortunately, there are charming, attractive, and sweet men out there who will sweep you off your feet and then dump you on the ground after they’ve had their fun with you. My mom refers to these men as “playboys.”

I recently got tricked by “Aaron” – a playboy. Aaron used me as his rebound girl. He needed morale support and he needed an ego boost. He knew how to charm me and make me feel good. He had his fun with me, and then dropped me into a sandpit.

Avoid being a rebound girl!

Below are 9 signs that you are just a rebound girl. Run if you observe ANY of these warning signs with a guy you are seeing.

9 Signs You are Just a Rebound Girl

1. The Man is 10+ Years Older than You

What guy wouldn’t want to date a younger, energetic, and youthful woman?

He may love hanging out with you, he may think you are an amazing woman, and the two of you may have lots of fun together.

But watch out if you are dating a guy who is 10+ years older than you. He will have his fun with you and then dump you for a woman closer to his age.

2. The Man Recently Got Divorced

The time-frame for a man to get over a divorce varies.

A safe strategy is to stay away from men that have gotten divorced in the past 6 months.

If the marriage was longer than 3 years, stay away from divorced men for at least two years.

3. He is Emotionally Down

Guys love having a soft, nurturing, and loving woman in their lives.

If a guy is going through a hard time (loss of a job, divorce, family problems), he may turn to a woman for morale support.

Or, he may want to date a woman to stroke his ego. This is especially true if the man was previously dumped or divorced by an ex-wife.

A man will reach out to a woman and treat her as a rebound if he is emotionally down. He is seeking a boost to his ego and self-confidence. Don’t let that woman be you.

4. He Got Dumped (Major Rebound Sign!)

A man is looking for ego stroking if his ex dumped him.

He’ll be on the lookout for a woman to snatch. This will make him feel like a man again.

Don’t let him snatch you up! Let him catch snails instead of you.

5. You’ve had 6 Dates and You Aren’t Official

Most couples are official within six dates. Definitely within 10 dates.

If you’ve gone on six dates with a man and he hasn’t talked to you about being exclusive yet, he is likely a playboy looking to have fun.

6. He Recently Moved Out (Warning Sign!)

A man will feel lonely if he was recently kicked out from living with his ex.

Men aren’t used to living alone if they’ve been living with a partner for months (or even years!). They are used to having someone take care of them.

If a man recently moved out and is now living on his own for the first time in a while, he is looking for a girl to fill the void.

He wants someone to nurture him and take care of him to replace his ex. Don’t let that rebound girl be you.

7. The Relationship is Moving Quickly

Most healthy relationships start slowly. You see the person once or twice a week for the first month.

If a guy is asking you to hang out 3+ times a week, it is because he is looking for a rebound girl.

8. You Haven’t Met His Friends or Family

Guys will WANT to introduce you to their friends and family.

You are just a rebound girl if you haven’t met a man’s close friends. Why? He knows you will be out of the picture in a few months. You are a temporary distraction.

9. He Says, “I Want to Have Fun”

If a guy says, “I want to have fun,” he actually means, “I don’t want a relationship with you. Don’t get your hopes up. I want to have sex with you and hang out with you. I’ll take you on dates. I’ll treat you like a girlfriend. But at the end of the day, I’ll end things with you if you start asking for more.”

Don’t let this innocent line fool you.

“I want to have fun” is code word for, “You are my rebound girl. That’s it.”

Signs You Are Not a Rebound Girl

Don’t be fooled by the following signs. A guy may SEEM great. He may text you daily. You two may talk about work, life goals, and the future. He may even mention going on a vacation with you.

Below are 5 signs that scream “relationship” or “dating.” Don’t get fooled!

A charming man may make you think the two of you are serious, when in reality you are still just a rebound.

5 Signs to Ignore (You May Still be a Rebound Girl)

He takes you out for dinner. You could get dinner and still be a rebound girl.
He talks about the long term. He could talk about his career or his dream house with you. This does not disqualify you from being a rebound girl.
You go on dates. You may go on dates and talk frequently. You may still be a rebound girl.
It feels right. Your gut may tell you that you are NOT a rebound girl. This is the one time that your gut may be wrong.
You have meaningful conversations. You may actually have a connection. You may have meaningful conversations. You may do much more together than just have sex. This does not mean that you are not a rebound girl.