Dear TGV,
I'm a bit embarrassed to admit this, but a situation in my family has left me feeling quite hurt, and I'm not sure if I'm overreacting.
My niece recently started a group chat on WhatsApp for our extended family (siblings, cousins, their partners, and so on). It seems everyone has been included except for me. I only found out because my sister accidentally mentioned something that had been discussed there, and when I looked puzzled, she awkwardly changed the subject. Later my daughter confirmed that the group chat exists and that most of the family are on it. What's more, the reason why my niece opted to leave me out of it was that she thought I'd get annoyed with all the notifications I'd receive.
I can't help but feel a bit left out and slighted. I've always considered myself close to my family, and we get together for birthdays and Christmas every year. I've even organized a few gatherings in the past myself! Part of me feels silly for being upset but part of me can’t shake the feeling that I’m being deliberately excluded. I also feel awkward about raising it with anyone for fear of seeming needy or making it a bigger deal than it is.
Am I being petty for feeling this way? Should I just let it go, or is it worth saying something?
Thanks for any advice you can offer.
Yours sincerely,
Feeling Left Out
