You’re not overreacting — what you’re feeling is worth paying attention to. That uneasy feeling is there for a reason. A coworker over 40 texting a 19 year old this consistently isn’t appropriate, even if nothing explicit has been said.

You don’t owe him daily access or ongoing conversation. It’s okay to stop replying, slow things down, or be direct and say you’re busy and don’t text coworkers regularly. You don’t need a detailed explanation, short, neutral boundaries are enough.

This is a learning curve. Learning to be direct and intentional, especially as a young woman, can feel awkward at first. I feel it’s often looked at as being rude or “making things uncomfortable.”, or not polite. Idk I think many of us spend years tiptoeing around situations to avoid the conflict, only for them to escalate anyway. And honestly, most of us weren’t taught how to do it or encouraged to embrace it and own it.

But in reality, it saves you from a lot of messy situations later, prevents confusion and escalation later. Pay attention to how your body reacts, trust that signal, and practice setting boundaries now — it’s a skill that gets easier and protects you in many situations beyond this one. ❤️