Bravo! Your article is so good. I am so proud of you! I wish I would have been much more like you when my kids were little ones. I think relationships and fitting in with people is about who they are. From my experience: real connection with people has less to do with age, stage or otherwise, but it is about who they are at the core. If you are someone who doesn't like surface interaction but prefers real meaningful ones, fitting in is rare. Empathic people are rare. I am sorry if it feels lonely and isolating. I feel that. My daughter is a young adult now. I get pressed and criticized because we are close. Apparently this is not permissible to have a close relationship (be "friends") with your child. Or possibly it's not ok that I am trying to create positive investment and make a better life. And I am not doing what they think is "right". And because people can be very insecure, they are likely feeling threatened by your strength, independence and "freedom" (from toxic, disengaged dad's in the house?). And some people are generally hostile and crappy. Some are mean, cold hearted and critical.