I have a relative who’s son, about 10 year old, seems to be fond of me. He is an avid talker. He will talk about anything and everything with me. Problem is, he doesn’t understand that I’m an introverted piece of shit. Even though I like being with him when I feel like talking, other times I can’t match his energy and feel exhausted. To just ignore what he’s saying and stop responding all of a sudden makes me feel bad. He’s really a good kid. How do I tell him to give me a break without hurting him?

  • fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.comEnglish
    2·
    2 days ago

    Agree 99%. Two caveats:

    • In situations like this, yes. But there are certainly many situations a 10 year old is not equipped to deal with that adults are, because:
    • Remember that 10 year olds do not have the same comprehension, vocabulary, or mental resilience of an adult. Words can have long-term effects on their development that they might not for most adults.

    (Saying this for OP more than for you, BTW)