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?
You may be one of the few or the only adult he feels comfortable talking to, adults tend to blow off or ignore kids all together.
Your listening to him might mean the absolute world to him. I know it’s one of the reasons why I still hold my father in such high regard.