Can you help me understand why I got so upset.

[sundayspooks]

Now, I really don't know why I felt I had to namechange. Because I feel so upset I suppose.
And I should have posted in AIBU, but I can't face a flaming.
It's silly really. I'll try my best not to drip feed.

I have recently retrained and went back to work. It's not a well paid, glamourous job by any means, it's free lance and it's a struggle getting jobs, but it involved lots of training, exams - post graduate level, and it's hard work - mentally and emotionally. It's been years since I last had a job and I'm very happy about it.

I ran into someone last week. I hadn't seen her in months but she knew about the training and me trying to go back to work. She asked about it and when I said " Well, I'm not as busy as hoped to be" - which is true. So, next thing she says "Oh well, got your little challenge and your little job".
She clearly is a cow and she's not even a friend, and I know that, but WTF did I get so upset and was there a reason to?
Would you be upset about this comment?

Oooh, this touched a nerve with me too.
When I was deep in the throes of SAHMdom with a 4 yr old, I thought about applying for a job I wanted - I won't say what it was, but you need skills and personability to do it, and it's not for everyone.

I told mt MIL about it and she said "Oh, that sounds like a nice little job for a short while."

I am still smarting, five years later!! "Little" is such a powerful word.

I once threw a great party, all our friends came and we had a fantastic time. One friend rang me the next day to say "Thanks for such a nice little party" grrrrr She was used to big affairs in London (where she went to pick up businessmen as far as I can tell ) and our parochial "little" thing with only 50 people (none of them rich or willing, I suppose) must have been quite tedious I suppose. She was being so polite in calling to say thanks and RUINED it with that one word.

Anyway don't take it to heart, I think people use the word without thinking (or of course, use it to wound, knowing precisely what it does).