ever think of accepting a compliment just like you would from someone else who isn't involved in your situation?

Get it in your head, you can control their actions, jeckyl and hyde and all the good stuff that comes with it.

One day they're nice, another they're crappy, big deal.

Don't be confused, let go of the need to control them and their actions, until you do this successfully, you'll continue to be confused.

You control you, you know you.

Just say "thank you for noticing" and leave it at that, you aren't starved for affection, you're internally validated.

;-)