The ‘Bad Pancake’ theory explains every bad rebound I’ve ever had

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The ‘Bad Pancake’ theory explains every bad rebound I’ve ever had

Bad pancakes are destined to burn

Right after a breakup, whether it's amicable or horrendous, you're hesitant to get back into the dating game. You're not your best self yet, you still have that scared-woodland-creature vulnerability about you and jumping back into dating might scare the shit out of you. But one way or another, you have to get back in the game.

Be wary, however, of the first person you date right after a breakup: they're your Bad Pancake.

The Bad Pancake theory states that the first person you connect with romantically after a failed relationship is destined to burn much like the first pancake in the batch.

The first pancake is the experiment. It's the test batch. It's the one you put on the griddle knowing that you're going to have to adjust something, whether that's the heat on the stove or the butter to batter ratio. You use the bad pancake as a means to finding a better pancake. You sacrifice the first pancake to get to the fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth delicious pancakes.

The Bad Pancake is nothing more than a bridge toward something better. It's unfortunate that we have to have a person be that bridge, but I don't write the rules. I just enforce them.

Don't let things get too far with the Bad Pancake — spend just enough time with them to help you get back into the game without getting emotionally attached. It doesn't matter how much butter or syrup or whipped cream you put on the Bad Pancake, it will still be bad. There's no saving the Bad Pancake so don't try.

Most importantly: if you find someone you think is incredible but they're the first person you're connecting with after a relationship, hold off on pursuing things until you have a Bad Pancake under your belt. Don't squander potential. It's better to find someone you can let things burn with to be your Bad Pancake.

Inevitably, we'll all be a Bad Pancake or have a Bad Pancake moment and it's something we all need to accept. Bad Pancakes are more than a theory, they're a fact.

The Bad Pancake relationship is destined to burn. And so it is written.

@jenniferficarra