Sometimes these moments are ultimately useful in helping us figure out what we need? Clearly it means a lot to you to be celebrated in this way and maybe your family doesn't care enough or maybe that just isn’t their “love language.” Maybe they’d respond well to being told that this is the type of thing you’d appreciate. Or maybe this is the moment you start to seek out people who are more able to love you the way you want to be loved?

It’s painful to realize what you wish you had but don’t. But what you’re describing doesn’t sound like longing for something impossible, it sounds like it could be a turning point.