I watched an interview this morning and there was a woman being interviewed that is 78 and looks fantastic, but, the point was she said her mother never thought she was special. It got me thinking, I do not think my mother thought I was special. (I was born with enough self confidence to absolutely know I was!) My mom had my sister then me two years later, then my brother four years later and was pregnant with the “happy accident” other brother and was packing up our home in Pennsylvania. She drove us all in the summer to Jacksonville, FL. She drove us to Jacksonville in a Ford without air-conditioning. She didn’t have time to think I was special. She loved me but she had other things on her mind. Her parents were in Philadelphia, her friends were there but Dad had an offer and a bunch of men he was working with were moving to the “Bold New City of the South. It was a great idea, but for my mother it was all new.
I think we all made it through okay. Everyone goes through things. It is totally part of life.
Staycation Atlanta 
I too saw the interview that I think you are referring to. The woman’s mother had Raynaud’s disease and eventually had amputations. I had the same reaction as you.
That was it. Sunday Morning.
At least you knew you were loved. I’m glad you were born with confidence because your description of that relationship sounds sad to me. 😦 And I think you’re quite special, too!