A few months ago, went to my Dad's house for dinner. He calls me and my brother asking for a $2 missing knife!

Question

He called us both numerous times, asking us to check all our silverware AND empty out our garbage to see if the knife got sent home with us somehow.

We couldn't find it anywhere, but he insists to this day that we have it somewhere. He just won't let it go!

The knife has no sentimental association or financial worth. Just your cheap $20 set of knives. He is VERY upset that one knife is missing from the set.

I tried to turn it into a joke. He came over my house a couple weeks after the knife went missing, so I took every knife and butter knife I owned and placed them up and down a long hallway.

He laughed at the time, but he STILL brings up his missing knife.

Is this a bit obsessive of him?

Should I just go buy him a new set of knives, even though I didn't lose it? He needs to let it go somehow.

Answer 1

That is hilarious! If I didnt know better I would swear you were talking about my step father. Girl, buy him a full set of $20 knives. It may not help but it is worth a try. I am still laughing!

Answer 2

Buy him a new set. Then ask if you can have his old set. Then when you give him the new set, make sure you take one of the knives out.

It sounds like a minor mental disorder. Not a mental impairment but some sort of variation of OCD.

Seriously though, if I had a kitchen set with 8 forks, 8 salad forks, 8 spoons, 8 soup spoons, and 7 knifes that would bug me a little bit. Not enough to go buy a whole new set, but I would feel comfortable calling my kids to see if they accidentally grabbed it.

Answer 3

It may actually be deeper than the knife do you guys have a normal communication path or is it somewhat strained?? Maybe he feels like thats the only way to start a conversation with you guys which is sad but people have a strange way of expressing themselves and if it really is about the knives tell him to LIG it (let it go) at the risk of alienating you and your brother over something so petty
God Bless You

Answer 4

If this is really bothersome to the point that you can’t see your dad without having this missing knife brought up then just buy him a replacement set and end the discussion.

Answer 5

i would buy yourself the same set he has then keep all the knives except the one he is missing then next time you are at his house prepare something you need knives for then be all like dad i thought you were missing this knife lol

Answer 6

I wouldn't buy him a new set, let him get his own. The knife could have been raked out in the garbage by mistake,when you were cleaning up. Tell him to let it go already.

Answer 7

Perhaps your father has some signs of Alzheimers or Dementia. It is very strange behavior, but not for someone with one of these deseases. My mother has Alzheimers and can become very obsessive about somethings that she just can't think clearly about. It's not about the knife, he needs to seek help.

Answer 8

I can understand his attachment to the knife. We all have our special knives,fork,plate,cup etc,etc.Buy him a replacement knife as a good gesture. I'm sure he would appreciate it, even if it is only a $2 item.

Answer 9

i think its pretty obsessive. maybe you should go to his house and take one of the knifes from the set and say you found the missing one. if he is really obsessive he will count them all so that might not work. maybe you could get him a new set with forks and spoons to so then they all match

Answer 10

some old people get like this with age....you ought to hear my grandmother....she loses things all the time and thinks someone can in her house and stole them...everytime we check her purse though we find the missing item...she can search the purse 3 times before we look in it and she cant find it............you just have to live with it....i would buy him a new set of knives to make him happy