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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Husband and kitchen knives

182 replies

Rollonspring23 · 11/03/2023 18:19

Despite me asking him numerous times to carry kitchen knifes pointing down in the kitchen, my husband repeatedly walks around with them pointing outwards.

We had a disagreement about this at lunchtime when I moved in the kitchen and he was carrying one outwards pointing at me at waist height.

Just had a row after I turned in the kitchen and found him carrying a knife to the other side about 10 inches from my ribs. I’ve lost the plot about this, he thinks I’m being unreasonable.

AIBU to expect him to carry knives pointing downwards, I thought this was an absolute basic!

OP posts:
Coffeellama · 11/03/2023 19:09

Rollonspring23 · 11/03/2023 19:05

We have kids and pets. I was walking backwards when I turned around.

If you were that bothered about safety when walking close to each other you wouldn’t be walking backwards, what if he was carrying something hot? Still totally OTT

pictoosh · 11/03/2023 19:14

I don’t carry knives pointing downwards. If you gave me a telling off I’d be irritated. Just being truthful.

steff13 · 11/03/2023 19:19

I carry knives pointed down. I don't think I've ever noticed how anyone else does it. I think walking around backwards is a greater risk of injury, frankly.

Merlott · 11/03/2023 19:22

Sort the kitchen layout so that knives aren't being carried around fgs.

Is there not a proper prep station set up? Everything should be in one place.

He is being weird and so are you. Bang your heads together

Original poster
Rollonspring23 · 11/03/2023 19:23

When I say backwards I literally mean I literally turned around, most people take a step backwards at the same time as turning around, rather than pivoting on the spot. This however meant I ended up mush closer to the knife tip than he’d intended.

OP posts:
coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 11/03/2023 19:25

Rollonspring23 · 11/03/2023 18:35

@coffeecupsandwaxmelts even though it risks injury to me?

He's not going to injure you!

You can't stab someone by walking towards them with a knife in your hand 😂

Original poster
Rollonspring23 · 11/03/2023 19:25

Prep station is directly next to the hob right next to where the knives are stored. Only moving around the kitchen required is to put the knives in the dishwasher / sink directly behind the prep area. No one is walking any further with knives than is necessary and there is no other suitable place for them to be stored.

OP posts:
OzziePopPop · 11/03/2023 19:29

I don’t think you’re being unreasonable at all! Surely any sane person avoids injury to themselves or anyone else wherever possible? It’s a tiny thing but entirely reasonable, carry knives with the point down. Just sensible? We have dogs and a kitten and someone tripping or being startled by one of them being unexpectedly in the way is common. Sure the risk is small but it’s avoidable, so you avoid it. Its hardly going to hurt OP’s DH to carry a knife sensibly?

I’ve trained my kids to do so and DH was ‘ready trained’ when I got him. Common sense surely?

MrsRosieBrew · 11/03/2023 19:29

My dad was a chef and taught me the correct way to carry knives and scissors. Pointing downwards. This would bother me. Especially if I had young children running around the home. YANBU.

GaspingGekko · 11/03/2023 19:29

OP, my DM accidentally stabbed me once with a kitchen knife.
She was cutting something and stopped to turn around - with the knife pointed towards me - and listen to me.
I can't remember the conversation, but I obviously said something that made her happy and she stepped forward and pulled me towards her for a hug. She completely forget the knife and literally pulled me into the blade, it jabbed into my stomach.
There wasn't so much as a scratch. It didn't pierce the skin at all. And that was with quite a bit of pressure behind it.
Yes best practice may well be to point them down, but you are really unlikely to suffer a serious injury from him taking knives to the sink.

Fannieannie63 · 11/03/2023 19:29

Years ago I had a friend who was a butcher, he told me that most of the injuries received that were reported ( by butchers) were waist height accidental stabbings. I completely get where you’re coming from and as someone who is accident prone, I’ve always heeded his warning. Tell him to stop being ridiculous and that safety is paramount.

GiltEdges · 11/03/2023 19:31

I'm lost. First you said...

sink is directly behind the prep area so no detour just 180 degree turn

Then you said...

he was carrying a knife across the kitchen

And then you went back to saying...

No one is walking any further with knives than is necessary

Confused

So which is it? Did he literally just turn around to put the knife in the dishwasher and you were unexpectedly in his path, or was he infact "carrying a knife across the kitchen"?

Itsmyturnnow1 · 11/03/2023 19:31

This is so weird and something I never think about. You’re being sensitive

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 11/03/2023 19:32

OzziePopPop · 11/03/2023 19:29

I don’t think you’re being unreasonable at all! Surely any sane person avoids injury to themselves or anyone else wherever possible? It’s a tiny thing but entirely reasonable, carry knives with the point down. Just sensible? We have dogs and a kitten and someone tripping or being startled by one of them being unexpectedly in the way is common. Sure the risk is small but it’s avoidable, so you avoid it. Its hardly going to hurt OP’s DH to carry a knife sensibly?

I’ve trained my kids to do so and DH was ‘ready trained’ when I got him. Common sense surely?

Pointing a knife down at the floor doesn't prevent injury, though.

What if you drop it and it pierces someone's foot (like what happened to Chandler in FRIENDS)
Or you drop it onto your child and stab them in the face/eye as they're looking up at you?
Or it slips out of your hand and you grab the blade?

Cas112 · 11/03/2023 19:34

Never even thought about this in my life

It's a none issue

Just don't walk into the knife

GaspingGekko · 11/03/2023 19:37

Fannieannie63 · 11/03/2023 19:29

Years ago I had a friend who was a butcher, he told me that most of the injuries received that were reported ( by butchers) were waist height accidental stabbings. I completely get where you’re coming from and as someone who is accident prone, I’ve always heeded his warning. Tell him to stop being ridiculous and that safety is paramount.

I'm going to presume that the knives professional butchers use are a bit sharper than those in OPs kitchen.

Regretsandregrets · 11/03/2023 19:38

You are absolutely right. The sharp side should always be pointing away from people.
That is the safest way. I always do that and I have taught my daugter the same thing.

Original poster
Rollonspring23 · 11/03/2023 19:39

GiltEdges · 11/03/2023 19:31

I'm lost. First you said...

sink is directly behind the prep area so no detour just 180 degree turn

Then you said...

he was carrying a knife across the kitchen

And then you went back to saying...

No one is walking any further with knives than is necessary

Confused

So which is it? Did he literally just turn around to put the knife in the dishwasher and you were unexpectedly in his path, or was he infact "carrying a knife across the kitchen"?

Seriously @GiltEdges?! He was carrying the knife ‘across’ the kitchen, as in turning around from the prep station and walking the two or three steps between the kitchen and the dishwasher! He turned one way as I turned the other. Do I need to be picked apart to this extent!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Rollonspring23 · 11/03/2023 19:40

Good to hear I’m not the only one who follows good practice to avoid accidental injury.

OP posts:
pornyshroudofturin · 11/03/2023 19:41

I'd say YABU for use of "prep station". It's Saturday night tea, not a busy evening service at The Fat Duck

GiltEdges · 11/03/2023 19:42

Seriously @GiltEdges?! He was carrying the knife ‘across’ the kitchen, as in turning around from the prep station and walking the two or three steps between the kitchen and the dishwasher! He turned one way as I turned the other. Do I need to be picked apart to this extent!!!

Well yes, I think you do actually. Because "walking across" has connotations of distance which two steps to the dishwasher doesn't. It was an unfortunate incident, but he wasn't irresponsible for not pointing a knife downwards to turn around and walk two steps Hmm

Original poster
Rollonspring23 · 11/03/2023 19:43

Fannieannie63 · 11/03/2023 19:29

Years ago I had a friend who was a butcher, he told me that most of the injuries received that were reported ( by butchers) were waist height accidental stabbings. I completely get where you’re coming from and as someone who is accident prone, I’ve always heeded his warning. Tell him to stop being ridiculous and that safety is paramount.

@Fannieannie63 thank you, this is exactly my thinking and why not just exercise caution to avoid this potentially happening.

OP posts:
MolkosTeenageAngst · 11/03/2023 19:43

You’re overreacting. The risk of stabbing you by carrying a knife outwards is no greater than the risk of stabbing his foot, a pet or a child by carrying it downwards. The risk of stabbing something as it falls is probably greater as the knife, if dropped, would pick up momentum as it falls. But honestly, the whole thing is a non-issue and you sound controlling and neurotic if you are repeatedly making a big deal out of this, especially as there are bigger risks in a kitchen. The risk of a scald is greater than a stabbing, do you make him put a lid on cups of tea before walking with them in case he bumped into you and spilt water on you? Do you PAT test all of your electrical appliances?

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 11/03/2023 19:45

Rollonspring23 · 11/03/2023 19:43

@Fannieannie63 thank you, this is exactly my thinking and why not just exercise caution to avoid this potentially happening.

Show quote history

Again, what about the risk of you injuring your DC or your pets by dropping a knife blade directly on them?

CockSpadget · 11/03/2023 19:45

I’d bet more people have turned up at A&E because they’ve dropped a knife and it’s gone through their foot, than people who have been accidentally stabbed by someone walking in their kitchen