To think you don't call anyone adorable

[Bluey124]

Who is approaching 40? Well late thirties to be precise.
I got told it today by a colleague. She is older at 60 but was still inappropriate. I was just speaking normally and she smiled to herself and I asked why and she said 'You are just adorable.'
Had this a lot in my life as in Sarah's so cute. Or Sarah's a sweetie etc. Nobody but a child or pet should be told they are adorable. Aibu ?

I don't think only small and young things can be adorable, but if you think she was patronising you then tell her.

It’s difficult to tell without knowing the person who said it. There are people who I can imagine saying it and it would be fine, others not so much.

Small children and animals. Adorable adult to cutesy and infantile.

Depends if it was genuine and sincere or a ‘bless your heart’ type put down really.

If it was meant nicely I don’t think there’s any harm in it.

And if you do tell her she's patronsing be prepared for her to respond and tell you you're ueber faux-sensitive. From reading the plethora of nonsense like this from workplaces I'm surprised that anyone risks speaking to others at all.

This has reminded me of a senior manner i worked with a few years ago. She was highly qualified and very intelligent but also very short, very pretty and looked about 21 despite being mid 30s, she encountered this type of crap all the time, so unfair.

I used to get that all the time too - people would constantly call me sweet or cute. Used to drive me insane!

I think more context is required. How does she treat you more generally? If she treats you respectfully but she is also just genuinely incredibly fond of you then I would just be happy that something thinks I'm loveable.

I'm guessing you said or did something that was childlike. Not childish or immature but more naive, unsullied by life, as though viewed through a child's perspective before real life hit.

Its certainly not something a colleague should say but it depends what sort of things you discuss normally. I wouldn't view it as nasty.

What was the subject matter?

Careful @Didtheythough someone will come along and tell you that it was absolutely impossible for you to have a colleague who was mid thirties but looked 21!
This colleague is quite motherly and caring with everyone but more so with me. Well thats the thing, I was only discussing how many snacks I had eaten the night before. Nothing cutesy or sweet about that.

Call my partner adorable all the time it means you're wrong and a bit of a twat in my context. Like tonight KFC for third night in a row. I said Can you affird it, do you really want it? Go on then you're so adorable I can't argue with you.

Maybe the way you talked reminded her of her children? It’s a bit strange but maybe it’s about her memories rather than about you.
of course it’s not really appropriate to call a colleague ‘adorable’ but it sounded as it was in a friendly not a patronising way.