In and out of fog city

[labug]

There are lots of validate but it has to come from an authentic place in you. You could rephrase what she says, mirror her feelings or the feeling she seems to be expressing.

In that last example you could say, Oh so you're working the weekend but without the boss.

or,

You sound relieved.

The way you interpret validating sounds a lot like you trying to help or fix and that's not what validating is about.