Wow, I was very moved by your letter... what an amazing way to work on your feelings, on yourself.
My family acted similarly, they also love me, I have no doubt in that, but they thought I was strong (and lazy) and instead of unconditional love and support I needed to be pushed. They said, you were already smart and we thought you knew, so instead of telling me how proud I made them, they pointed at something they were not impressed with. It was always something. And the more they said, the less I showed how deeply it hurt me, the less I said the more they thought I was strong and kind of cold, so the more they pushed. I spoke to them a few years ago, I was so frustrated with them never being happy with me, I worked so hard for them to appreciate me and I always just got a "yeah but why aren't you..." (I had good grades in school, I was the best singer in school choir, a soloist, I was nice to people, volunteered, helped out, never went out, always helped at home, took care of my younger sibs... their response was always: why don't you have more friends, why are you not out more, why are you gaining weight). They couldn't see it my way, even after I told them everything, even when I had cried for hours telling them I never feel good enough for anyone and anything because I never was good enough for them. They can't see that I was tough because I couldn't be weak, because being weak would have killed me. They think I need therapy (which I do, of course), but they still don't really think they made mistakes.
But I know why they did it and I am working on me, on proving to myself that I am worth it, that I am good enough for everything, that I deserve things. I am turning into the person I want to be, the person I have always wanted to be. And that person has forgiven her parents for not reading her right and is ok with their pushes, because she knows they mean "I am proud of you, I love you".
It is so great to see that you did that, you took all that pain and heartache and turned it around and now you are tackling your "last" hurdle and I just know you will do great, because you overcame so much already. Amy is lucky to have you and clearly you are lucky to have her. Someone who loves you past your insecurities and fears... that is true love.
Have a wonderful weekend and I am rooting for you to be at your minigoal by your birthday, Camy