Something happened with a friend that was very eye-opening

We bonded because we're both older undergrad students. I guess you could classify as a young adult still, while she is married with adult children. Still, we hang out and sometimes grab coffee before and after class.

One day she decides to treat me to dinner because of a positive life event. We sit down, eat our meals and chat about our personal lives and the like. At one point, she starts telling me she's glad she met me because it's good to not have to do this alone (like everyone else in our classes are 21 and under). She said she was proud of me for some recent accomplishments and that she was able to spend time with me and see me grow. There were even tears in her eyes.

And I was so put off.

She was being so kind and genuine, honestly more than most people I've known in life, and suddenly my emotions shut down and I had to force myself to smile and enjoy the rest of the meal. I wanted to run away. I'm NC with my mom and all of those emotions and positive words just reminded me of her. I'm not used to praise and when my mom does it, it's always in a smothering way or for her to get praised back for being my mom. And when she cries and shows emotions, they're always about her. If she's crying about something that's happened to me, it's so others will comfort her. So my first thought with my friend was "what do you want from me?" I hate that. I have a better understanding of how my childhood has affected me as an adult, so now I know what to tackle in therapyyyyy!