Validation.

I think I'm beginning to gain a small amount of self-confidence.

Husband and I realized the other day that we both had always felt like we were just being tolerated by a group of friends- like the fringe member of the group. Not that we didn't know our friends didn't love us, but well...

We're both the kind of people that floats between several social groups. This is nice because there's always someone to hang out with, always something going on. But you don't really have a home-base of friends. And it's really just a clever way of never having to be alone.

Well, recently we've found out (by being dumb people and bad friends and holing up for several months after our wedding) that there are people who actually genuinely miss being with/around us. And that they want to fit in with us. This makes me feel loved. And dumb for not realizing this sooner.

I blame it on being an extroverted introvert (husband is an introverted extrovert). I'm extroverted enough to talk to strangers, start conversations, and make friends, but introverted to the point of sometimes spending several days completely alone and not realizing that I've done it.

Also, I blame it on being a middle child.
But it still makes me feel dumb.