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?
Definitely true for both and the natural consequence of hyperindividualism. In the case of boys, it seems that a few too many are turning to the manosphere for mentorship which is particularly concerning.
Oh, I agree completely. The impacts of this lack of mentorship are very different from one gender to another.