“Let the grown-ups handle this part.” How do you handle that at work?

Just wanna get something off my chest.

“Let the grown-ups handle this part.”
A coworker said that to me yesterday in a meeting — with a smile, like it was all just lighthearted fun.

Everyone laughed.
I tried to laugh too, even though it hit me like a punch in the chest.
That weird freeze happened — the one where your face stays normal but your whole body goes tight and small.

I wanted to say something, even something simple like “Not cool,” but nothing came out.
So I played along, acted unbothered, and let the moment pass.

But it stuck with me for the rest of the day. Honestly, I’m still thinking about it.
That mix of embarrassment and resentment you try to shake off but can’t.

It’s wild how one “joke” can make you feel about two inches tall.