To think my mum over reacted. Photo attached

That’s awful OP, it’s assault. You could actually go to the police with that, but presumably you don’t want to. What did she say after, was she apologetic? I’d be reducing contact with her or even stopping it.

Nope. That is not alright at all.

No, it's not normal and it's not OK.
You said "... at my mum's" so it sounds like you don't live with her.
I'd stay away from her house if I were you. She needs to apologise profusely and seek help. If she assaults you again call the police.

I have so many questions. You said you’re in your late 20s. Why are you living with her? Are you vulnerable? Surely you wouldn’t need to post here to double check that someone throwing cutlery at you is wrong?

Run away from that woman.

OP that is such a shame. It is unacceptable for anyone to behave this way. I think your mum needs to know that you will no longer tolerate this sort of treatment. It will only get harder to address as she gets older because you will then feel worried about stressing her out, falling out and you will feel guilty if you put your foot down so do it now while she is still young. Leave, fall out with her due to her violent act (make sure she knows that's why) and stick to your guns until she apologizes. You need to reset the whole tone and respectful interactions of this relationship. Would she do that to a visiting friend? Can she really not control herself?
Id be wondering if there was something else going on? Depression, stress, mental health problems? Do you think any of these apply here?

If you don‘t live there, leave and don’t go back! This is an assault. What a horrible woman.

Do you live with her?
At the very least go to a minor injuries unit, tell them what happened. They can help you. She will always downplay it, she’s not going to say “yes I threw a knife at you”

At minimum I'd not visit her home again. She clearly has issues around cleanliness and control so I'd use this incident as reason not to go again.

What she like in your home? I'd only want to meet her on neutral territory or on your own ground.

Oh my goodness. This is awful, you poor thing! Don’t underplay this. She threw a knife at you.

See the escalation that's there. First a slap, then an "accidental" stab. What's next? Accidentally suffocating you? Get out and get safe

She threw a knife at you? 😱 No that is not at all normal - let alone just an “overreaction”. It would only have to hit you in the wrong place (near a major vein or artery) and it could have been really serious!

A slap is bad enough but as a one off, adult to adult I guess it could happen (although if it ever happened twice I would think again, especially from my own parent). But I assumed at first you meant she’d thrown something small and blunt in your vague direction (like a spoon) and by chance it accidentally caused a wound, which would obviously be bad enough and still no where near acceptable. This is unbelievable… bet she’s praying you don’t go to the police. Who the heck throws knives in someone’s direction if they aren’t trying to hurt them?

Do you live with her? Is there anywhere you can go to have some time apart so she can reflect on what’s she’s done? (and so you can be safe ❤️).

If you are prone to assaulting people when angry, I strongly suggest you get some help. This reply is even more shocking than the OP.

OP, I hope you can distance yourself from your mum. What happened to you is shocking.

I can honestly say if someone threw cutlery at me.. or in my direction... in anger fpr whatever reason it would be the last they saw of me for a very long time.
It's not normal. In all my life I have never thrown anything at anyone out of anger. My husband has never thrown anything at me.
To anyone minimising it - look stvyourself and your relationships - its not usual.

Of course you've done nothing wrong 💐

Has she always been volatile?

OP I’m so sorry, this is really bad and not normal, nobody deserves this. She sounds abusive and out of control. Do you live there? If not I think it’s time to go no-contact with her.

I agree it's absolutely not acceptable. I just wondered if there was a reason for the behaviour and therefore something that could be done about it. It's always worth trying to understand someone else's point of view.

Some people do though. They feel ashamed and then get defensive so deny it. They don't want to take ownership and can be too stubborn to apologise.

My mum is the most particular person that I know. Everything in her house has to be immaculate. If i left drops of water on her draining board, she would ask me to wipe it up. She can be a bit of a battleaxe, but even she would never throw an object near me, let alone at me or call me selfish. I'm really sorry that she has reacted like that. I wouldn't yell back or react, but I would later calmly explain how upset it made you feel and how you cannot relax in her house and then take a step back. Maybe she didn't intend you physical harm or not to that extent but she reacted in anger and called you selfish, which was very much intentional and abusive over such a small act.

Did you retaliate when she slapped you?

no she didn’t and not should she have ! Nice victim shaming !

If you let her get away with it, she'll probably carry on.
more victim shaming

(I'd have punched her lights out.)
then you are worse than her mum and should be in a cell

The fact she's playing it down means it was intentional. If you accidentally hurt someone you're never going to do that. I hope you can find the strength to remove yourself from her

It isn't the act itself is it or even the injury , its the lack of awareness of how bad it is and the minimising it which really hurts ? If you did this to someone by accident, you would be apologetic wouldn't you ? The fact she isn't speaks volumes.

That is assault. And being bothered about water splashing on a draining board is bonkers.

It is not OK. Is your Mum under any stress at the moment? How is she being treated generally by other people?
BTW: I absolutely hate it when people leave clean crockery/pans on the draining board. Of course it is going to get splashed when someone use the tap and if someone is washing their hands it might no be clean water.