Are widows overly senstive?

Like the tide, people come in and go out of our lives all of the time. While some women are still close with childhood friends, most of us only see them on Facebook.

We even experience this ebb and flow on this blog. Some widows enthusiastically post comments and respond to others for months and then they seem to disappear.

For whatever reason when women become widows some friends do more than quietly fade into the night, they head for hills in record speed. Over and over I have read posts from widows whose best friends don't call or see them anymore. They are shocked, hurt and angry.

So, are widows overly sensitive? Do we expect too much of others? Do we have a right to be upset when "friends" don't include us anymore?

I don't think widows are too sensitive. Until someone walks in my shoes they can't understand what it is like to go from a couple to a single. They have no idea how hurtful some remarks can be and how going it alone is extremely challenging.

Maybe we do expect too much of others. I'm not sure. Personally, I had very low expectations of others and for the most part those low expectations were barely met. Don't expect that your husband's death will not change relationships. It will.

I turned down a lot of invitations since Lane died. Even those parties or gatherings I have attended weren't exactly my happiest experiences so if I'm not included anymore I'm learning to be okay with that. How do I feel when I am left off a guest list? It is hard to be the odd man out but it is even harder to be the widow not worthy of an invitation.

What do you think? Are we too sensitive?

Sue