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?
Seconding this. He sounds smart enough to understand “Hey, I need a few minutes, but I still want to talk”.
Raising our kids, we never used reasons like “because I said so”, we always explained why we made the decisions we did, so our children learned reasoning and understanding as they grew. Kids are generally quick to learn, and can understand most situations if explained plainly. Talk to them with clarity and respect and you’ll be surprised at the response you get.