Yes. After losing a spouse, as we have, there is that feeling of "being left out" ~~ quite often. As I told my youngest daughter one day when we were talking on the phone ~~ "I can be in a room of 300 people, and still feel lonely". It is true!! W/O him (or her) we feel misplaced for quite sometime.
It has been 6 yrs. for me now, as of last Sat. (I have a post here about that), and there are still times when I feel like the one left out. Not all the time, now, but sometimes. Of course, I am the one "by myself" when all my kids are here, or when several from the church goes somewhere or has a dinner. There are all the young couples and several older couples, and then there is me. Of course, they usually make me feel welcome, but, that feeling inside is still there ~~ "I am the single person here". Most of the time, now, I cope well. The Holidays bring out that loneliness, though, more than other times.
You aren't alone in this. We just learn to adjust.
Hugs, Joely

I think in most social situations there is a disconnect because our other halfs are not there. Even when people try hard to include me my heart sends me a different message. In your case I think the family could step up to the plate a little more. There was no reason for the shuffling. You still should have been in the middle in my books. God bless. Gerald

Silverfox I completely agree with Gerald on this one, you are the Mom-Grandma and you with a partner or without deserve to be in the middle with your family around you. I am sorry you experienced this. God bless...
Best wishes and warm hugs,
Mary

There are times I do feel left out. I don't think anyone means anything by it. But I do kind of just walk away when that happens. Loneliness is the second to worst in all this. This first is losing our loved one!!! God Bless Susan

You should have been at the centre of the photograph and there certainly should have been no shuffling and reshuffling. I understand your feeling on the subject.

I have felt, at times, that I have lost my status. I do not know why. One of my son-in-law treats me as a spare part, with slight contempt and condescension. It would have never happened if my husband had been with me. I have been hurt but decided not to make an issue of it because I shall be going home soon and there is no need to make the situation sour. My daughters and second son in law do not make feel left out but in some social gatherings I have felt surplus to requirement.

Maybe, it is because I still feel disoriented and vulnerable without him and my heart is not into all these merriments.

Big hug to you

Thank you everyone for your support. I agreed with Papagena that we may have lost our status and being the odd single person. I am trying not to be too sensitive.

It was certainly a different Christmas. My great-granddaughter did the Christmas prayer before we sat down to eat and honored Clint throughout the prayer. I ask her to give me a copy so I can put it my journal. It really helped me to get through the evening.

Praised. It is so sweet that your great granddaughter honored your husband all through the prayer. We are not so happy at Christmas with my mother in-law around. My mother-in-law had always hit my husband when he was young until he was big enough to grab her hand and told her never to hit him again. This Christmas my mother-in-law raised her hand at my daughter wanting to hit my girl just because my daughter told her to sit down before she could hold my grandson. She is repeating her abusive behavior with my daughter now that her son is gone. I don't even thing she missed her son.

11 months after my husband passed, I had to attend my brother's wedding. My son was with his grandparents, so i was alone. I had no idea where i now belonged in my close family. My family was wonderful about my loss, but i still felt so misplaced. It was hard to find a place back in with all the "couples".