I am assuming you are a M, because us Fs could never understand a M in such a way. You are dead on. M & Fs are just so different in how we think. My H says something similar to the OPs comments & I misread it, miss the point. I am guilty of saying he doesn't compliment, but in his mind he is thinking, this lady is f'in crazy, I compliment her all the time.
I need to get better at hearing/listening to what it is he is actually saying. (And he needs to as well) If I take the time to translate his language to my own understanding, I can then start to get the validation I need. Maybe I was getting it all along & just missed it. When you put her sitch the way you did, his comment seemed quite sweet and as you mentioned vulnerable/insecure.
I can't wait to "see" things differently over this next week to see if it will change things, or how I view things for myself. The change needs to start with me.
Thank you for such GREAT posts. I appreciate your insight.
