‘Tradition’ is not a good enough reason to keep on doing something. Especially if you are not comfortable with it.
Reason I quote this is less than deep. It’s merely because I’m sat in a north London coffee shop enjoying my scrambled eggs and chorizo. Once again hearing my strict primary school teacher Mrs Webb telling me off for having my knife and fork in the wrong hands. Something that has stuck with me all these years and is my visual anchor for which is the ‘right’ hand to hold my knife. It was a massive tap on my 7 year old shoulder in the dinner hall in front of everyone, I was being told off for something I didn’t even realise I was doing. Something my mum always would have a go at me about. “Natasha, put your knife and fork in the right hands”
Mrs Webb was sitting behind me on the teachers lunch table. We were back to back - eyes at the back of her head. I was holding the fork in my right hand when she told me off. This is the ‘trigger’ the visual memory that reminds me when I’m out in public to swap my cutlery over. I mean is anyone really wasting their time watching me and my lack of cutlery etiquette?! Am I being judged by the staff, or the mother and baby in the next table.
OK so the knife is suppose to be in my right hand ok got it.. oh no wait.. so why are you trying to confuse me and say I should use the fork in my right hand if I’m not using my knife. Seriously! Why are we still following these rules? Can’t I just go into a restaurant and not have the risk of anxiety every time I pick up my cutlery.
Can somebody please give me a reason why I can’t use my knife and fork in any hand? I won’t take ‘tradition’ as an answer.
Even as I write this I have put my knife down and swapped my fork to my right hand....... sometimes habit wins.