I know exactly what you are talking about. Trust me. I do. Your self-confidence takes a big hit when you are rejected like this - made worse by sacrificing time with your family so he can spend as much time as possible with his. I'm no expert, but regarding how family is very important to him --- I have no idea how long you've been together, but as you stay together, YOU become his family. "His" family transitions into becoming his "family of origin." For some couples, the transition happens fast, but most take some time. Unfortunately for some couples, that transition never happens and the pain and resentment only builds. And despite what the TV sitcoms would have you believe, women have it much worse dealing with their in-laws than men have with theirs. "OK for this Christmas, but what about next year?" (Believe me. I have felt for years like I've been sitting at the virtual "kids table" at these gatherings. Sometimes I feel invisible. Not in on the family jokes. Or even feel like an uninvited guest.) So, for this year, I would just write it off. Make the best of it. Enjoy the food. But, it sounds like you need (and deserve) to see some change, some compromise in the weeks and months ahead. OK. Not this Christmas. There's not even any snow (Well, here there's none.) But you do deserve better. Certainly your inner child deserves better. Mine sure did. It was hard. It hurt. But I just had enough rejection. Understanding that I was not the problem was the first step. Good luck. We'll be there right beside you at the kids table supporting you. OK?