Love is wonderful, they say. I first encountered this blissful feeling when I was about five years old (I know). There was a little boy in my class who made me shy just by his presence. I know I was a little too young to be ‘crushing’ but the way I see it, it was love in its purest form!

For one, all we did was smile at each other occasionally, and we may have even exchanged pencils during a drawing class once, after which I spent the rest of the class day dreaming about living happily ever after with him in a house made of Smarties! 

After he suggested that I loan my best friend the little white dress I loved and wore almost all the time so that THEY could go and get married, I called the relationship a wrap and swore never to trust boys again! True story! He was a sorry excuse for a boy. Who breaks a little girl’s heart?

Anyway, save for the drama of ‘young love’, as adults, love is a lot more complicated and confusing than smiling in innocence and dreaming of houses made of candy. How do you know that your muffin is all he says he is and that he won’t ask you to lend your best friend your dress so he can marry her? I need to let that go, don’t I? 

Is he taking you for a ride or is he actually the Prince Charming you’ve been waiting for since you read Cinderella? It could take forever to know for sure and life is too short to be living in suspicion but do not rush into love with your eyes wide shut!

Many people rush into relationships and later learn that there wasn’t a shred of compatibility from the start. Cons in love usually want an ego boost, attention, fun and sex or maybe even a way to get the bills paid. So how do you tell he wants the whole, I’m your man-I love you to the moon and back-Let’s get married thing? Pay attention.

According to www.keen.com, when an inconsiderate jerk starts pouring you with compliments and sweet gestures from nowhere, yeah, something’s up! He’s probably just softening you so that you won’t notice his appalling behaviour.

We all know times change, and there are moments when we look at ourselves in the mirror and wonder why our physical appearance hasn’t changed with those times. But if your man comes home one day with a totally different look, sure, he might be trying out something new…or he could be trying to impress another woman. But since when do men try out new looks?

We are all entitled to privacy but if your man seems to develop a sudden obsession with his gadgets then there is need to worry. For example, if he won’t let you use his phone even when there is an emergency and would rather run out to the store to buy you airtime so you can use yours, you have a problem.

If you do spot a con in love, always take caution and use the high road. Hold your head high, regardless of the direction you choose. Allow your partner the benefit of the doubt, if there is doubt. Love is a journey, a really bumpy ride so pack slowly but surely.